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Synonyms: |
Borassus flabellifer L. var. aethiopum (Mart.) Warb. |
Common names: | Cibangalala (Bemba) Kahuma (Tonga: Zambia) Kakoma (Nyanja) Kakunka (Lenje) Muhuma (Ila) |
Frequency: | Locally abundant |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Dioecious trees; stems often swollen in upper half. Leaves very large, persistent but eventually falling to leave a bare trunk; petiole armed with irregular black teeth, varying greatly in size and shape; lamina palmate or costapalmate, divided into numerous usually bifid segments; leaf segments with conspicuous cross-veins and lacking black spots. Inflorescences axillary. Male inflorescences composed of 3-6 partial inflorescences the branches of which terminate in 3 or more cylindric flower-bearing branches, each bearing pits enclosing a cincinnus of male flowers. Male flowers: sepals 3; corolla 3-lobed; stamens 6. Female inflorescence different to the male; simple or with 1-2 branches, each bearing large connate bracts with a solitary female flower in each axis. Female flowers: sepals 3; petals 3, similar to sepals; staminodes 6; ovary spherical, 3-locular. Fruit rounded, containing 1-3 pyrenes, with stigmatic remains borne at the apex. |
Type location: |
Ghana |
Notes: | Major populations were destroyed when the Kafue Gorge dam flooded the habitat. Widespread; not threatened. |
Derivation of specific name: | aethiopum: Ethiopia, the name of the sub-Saharan biological region before the country formerly known as Abyssinia claimed the name Ethiopia. |
Habitat: | Floodplain alluvium, munga woodland and wooded grassland on dolomitic soils, and occasionally on termite mounds in miombo woodland. |
Altitude range: | 30 - 1200 m |
Flowering time: | Aug - Oct |
Worldwide distribution: | Sudanian, Zambezian and Coastal phytochoria, extending to northern South Africa. |
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): | B,N,W,C,E,S |
Zambian distribution (Provinces): | Nw,Cb,Lp,N,Mc,E,C,Lk,S,(W) |
Growth form(s): | Tree, shrub over 2 m. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Zophopetes dysmephyla (Larval foodplant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Monday 27 October 2014 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 51. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 9. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 120. Dransfield, J. (2010). Arecaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(2) Pages 61 - 63. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 232. Fanshawe, D.B. (). District vegetation reports Division of Forest Research, Kitwe (roneo). Fanshawe, D.B. (1971). The Vegetation of Zambia. Division of Forest Research, Kitwe. Fowler, D.G. (2007). Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses, Kew Publishing Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 162. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia Oxford Univ. Press. White, F. (1983). The Vegetation of Africa. A descriptive memoir. UNESCO, Paris |
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