Guibourtia coleosperma

(Benth.) J. Leonard

Bushman bean, Large false mopane

Fabaceae Edible: Seeds, Fruit, Aril, Oil 125 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Guibourtia coleosperma, the African rosewood (ambiguous), large false mopane, Rhodesian copalwood or machibi, is a species of plant in the family Fabaceae. It is a large evergreen tree (to 20 m tall) found in open woodland and dry forest, almost exclusively on Kalahari Sand in Angola, southern Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The condensed tannins proguibourtinidins can be found in G. coleosperma. G. coleosperma timber has a noticeable smell of menthol.

Description

A tree which keeps its leaves most of the year. It grows up to 19 m tall. It has a large crown and the branches tend to hang downwards. The trunk has buttresses. The bark is grey to red-brown and becomes rough with age. The leaves are made up of 2 wing like leaflets. These are up to 10 cm long and 2 cm wide. They are slightly curved. They are smooth and glossy and have fine transparent dots. The leaflets have short stalks and are not hinged together. The whole leaf is carried on a stalk about 1.9 cm long. The flowers are small and white. The pods are small, shiny and shaped like a half circle. They are dark and have a stalk on one side. They have one brown seed enclosed in a scarlet skin. This red layer (aril) is edible. The seeds are edible.

Edible Uses

The seeds are edible cooked — traditionally they are baked in hot ashes and pounded, then either eaten as they are or, more commonly, mixed with water to form a paste and cooked again. The fruit (a fleshy aril) is also eaten cooked; soaking it in warm water for a few minutes makes it easy to separate from the seed, and the arils are used to make soup.

Traditional Uses

The red layer (aril) around the seed is eaten either mixed with porridge or made into a drink. The seed are roasted and ground and eaten. They are used in soups and porridges.

Medicinal Uses

The bark is valued for treating skin ailments and promoting wound healing. It is typically pounded and applied as a paste directly to the affected area.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It often grows on sand dunes in the desert. It can grow in salty soils. It grows between 900-1,100 m above sea level. In Zimbabwe it grows between 750-1,400 m above sea level. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall of about 400 mm. It can grow in arid places. It has deep roots that enable it to tolerate dry periods.

Where It Grows

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Central Africa, Congo DR, Congo, East Africa, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Found in the wild almost exclusively on deep sandy soils. Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Propagation

Seed.

Other Uses

The reddish-pink heartwood is attractive and fine-grained. The wood is hard and heavy, used for furniture, knife handles, and various other purposes.

Production

It grows slowly.

Other Information

The seed are a staple food of the Bushmen.

Notes

Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Synonyms

Copaifera coloesperma Benth.

Also Known As

Bastard teak, Bastermopanie, Chivi, Copalwood, False mopani, Manzauri, Mehibi, Mtjibi, Mungengem Mushibi, Musyibi, Mutsauri, Mutsotso, Muzauli, Omushii, Oshi, Rhodesian mahogany, Rhodesian teak, Tsaudi, Tsauri, Umtshibi, Ushibi, Ushivi, Usivi

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