Balanites maughamii Sprague

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Along trail near Mpingue, Catapu, Sofala

Photo: Meg Coates Palgrave
Catapu, Sofala.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Inhamitanga Forest

Photo: Bart Wursten
Southern margin of Inhamitanga Forest near railway line, Coutada 12, Cheringoma

Photo: Bart Wursten
Inhamitanga Forest Reserve, Marromeu

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Synonyms:
Common names:	Green-thorn (English) Y-thorned torchwood (English)
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Medium-sized to tall deciduous tree, large specimens often with a fluted trunk. Branches distinctly zig-zagging, armed with green forked spines. Leaves 2-foliolate; leaflets asymmetrical ovate to almost round, dark grey-green, leathery, velvety when young; margin entire. Flowers in axillary clusters on mostly unarmed branches, c. 2 cm in diameter, yellowish-green; petals densely hairy on the outside. Fruit date-like, grooved along the length, yellowish when ripe, edible and rich in oil.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	maughamii: named after a Mr Maugham who collected the type in southern Mozambique.
Habitat:
Flowering time:	Sep - Oct
Worldwide distribution:	From Tanzania to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Botswana distribution:
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 347. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 8. As Balanites maughamii maughamii Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Page 256. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 248. Launert, E. (1963). Balanitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 221 - 223. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 29. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 39. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 24.

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Flora of Caprivi: Balanites maughamii
Flora of Malawi: Balanites maughamii
Flora of Mozambique: Balanites maughamii
Flora of Zambia: Balanites maughamii
Flora of Zimbabwe: Balanites maughamii

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Balanites maughamii
African Plant Database: Balanites maughamii
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Balanites maughamii
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Balanites maughamii
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Balanites maughamii
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Balanites maughamii
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Balanites maughamii
JSTOR Plant Science: Balanites maughamii
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Balanites maughamii
Plants of the World Online: Balanites maughamii
Tropicos: Balanites maughamii
Wikipedia: Balanites maughamii