Esterhuyse, N., Von Breitenbach, J. Gum or resin: The tree is the source of Angola copal. The mopane is one of the trees most commonly used for the construction of traditional houses, palisades and fences in the regions Omusati, Oshana and Oshikoto. Breteler. A useful multi-purpose tree, it is often harvested from the wild for its medicinal uses and also for a wide range of commodities. One of the first trees to feel the soft stirring of spring, it … The mopane worm, which is the caterpillar of the mopane moth, can be eaten fresh or dried. noun /məˈpɑːni/ a) A tree, Colophospermum mopane, native to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi b) The mopame worm or mopame moth Gonimbrasia belina Mopane twigs have been traditionally used as tooth brushes, bark to make twine and for tanning, and leaves for healing wounds. Known uses include using mopane for timber (in building walls and roofs of traditional huts), for firewood and in making rope. Richard Morris. The way the villagers prepare the rope leads to . Mopane Tree: The Buffalo of Trees The mopane or mopani (Colophospermum mopane) tree grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, 200-1,150 m, in the far northern parts of southern Africa, into South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi. Other traditional uses of the mopane tree include the making of houses and kraal fences, the chewing of twigs as tooth brushes, the use of bark to make twine and for tanning, and the use of leaves for healing wounds. Its large edible caterpillar, known as the madora or mopane worm or amacimbi, masontja, feeds primarily but not exclusively on mopane tree leaves. Mopane twigs have been traditionally used as tooth brushes, bark to make twine and for tanning, and leaves for healing wounds. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here. The wood is also used to make charcoal and for braai wood. The termite-resistance and rich, reddish colouring also make it popular for flooring. Its wood is used for building houses and for firewood, its bark is used for tanning and for producing rope and its leaves provide welcome feed for browsing animals in the dry season. The wood is also used to make charcoal and for braai wood. Kruger Day Safaris. This page was last edited on 21 December 2020, at 15:26. The database and code is licensed under a Food and medicinal services were the most diverse and least selective of all the services (21 and 39 tree species used, respectively). mopane trees (Hobane 1995) and a general increase in pressure on mopane woodlands. Die zweiteiligen Laubblätter sehen wie Kamelfussabdrücke aus und falten sich bei starker Hitze zusammen. Oppong, C.K., Addo-Bediako, A., Potgieter, M.J. & Wessels, D.C.J. Hardwickia mopane (J.Kirk ex Benth.) Colophospermum mopane, commonly called mopane,[2] mopani,[3] balsam tree,[2] butterfly tree,[2] or turpentine tree,[2] is a tree in the legume family (Fabaceae), that grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, 200 to 1,150 metres (660 to 3,770 ft) in elevation, in the far northern parts of southern Africa. The tree only occurs in Africa. It is native to Southern Africa, including Southern Angola, Zambia, Southern Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Northern South Africa. Mopane worms … Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Where it occurs, it is often the dominant tree species, frequently forming homogeneous stands. Colophospermum is Latinised Greek for "oily seed", in reference to the resinous seed (i.e. From plot data, C. mopane had the highest number of recorded cut stems (electronic supplementary material, table S2), indicating this species is heavily used and extracted. Harvesters sell it in villages, towns or to the trader[7], The mopane tree also serves as a host plant for the mopane psyllid Retroacizzia mopani.[8][9]. The Mopane tree, known as Colophospermum mopane in English, is the only tree that occurs in Africa only. The species name mopane is taken from the local name for the tree. It grows well in hot, dry, low-lying areas. Trees growing in the Cathedral Mopane forest in the Game Management Area adjoining South Luangwa National Park. Mopane wood is one of southern Africa's heaviest and is difficult to work because of its hardness. Woody construction materials were more diverse, with 10 known tree species used for this service. J. Léonard (vernacularly known as mopane) is one of the best-known and valuable tree species indigenous to southern Africa. Most wood collected for firewood needs to be dried completely in order to burn successfully, but this wood can be burned even when it is still wet. Outside Africa, mopane is gaining popularity as a heavy, decorative wood, its uses including aquarium ornaments, bases for lamps or sculptures, and garden accents. Translations of the word MOPANE from english to spanish and examples of the use of "MOPANE" in a sentence with their translations: Food sovereignty in Zimbabwe: mopane trees and local livelihoods. Mopane wood is one of southern Africa's heaviest and is difficult to work because of its hardness. The stem density and AGB were low (103 stems ha −1 and 7.31 Mg C ha −1) due to the small stature of most of the Mopane trees (below the 1.3 m measurement height). It grows in alkaline (high lime content) soils which are shallow and not well drained. The mopane tree is home to the mopane moth (Gonimbrasia belina). Widely used for wood carvings and furniture; sap used to treat skin cuts and wounds and to treat eye cataracts; roots are used in concoction to treat blackwater fever and malaria; ashes of roots are used for asthma and tuberculosis; a liquid infusion of the bark is for headaches, stomach aches and piles [4] However, this also makes it termite resistant. kruger national park, mpumalanga province, south africa - mopani tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. The shrub Mopane woodland was characterized by the presence of Aloe spp. The well-known Mopane tree occurs from the south of Satara in dense stands northwards, becoming the most dominant tree of the area. mopane tree leaves - mopani tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. Last update on 2019-06-13: Now containing 11906 plants. Cocoons of the moth are harvested as wild silk, to make cloth. Some trees yield no copal but ooze a clear yellow gum when the bark is incised. The Mopane tree or Colophospermum mopane, also known as the butterfly-tree for the shape of its wing-like leaves, plays a central role in southern Africa. Es ist noch eine kleine Spitze am Ende des Laubblattes vorhanden, die ein reduziertes drittes Fiederblatt darstellt. The leaves has a 12,6 % protein content and both the fruit and leaves retain their nutritional value after they have fallen to the ground. There are two ecoregions where mopane is the predominant vegetation. Mopane is used extensively for firewood and also as building material (poles) in constructing traditional huts, kraals, fences, grain stores and chicken pens. Its distinctive butterfly-shaped leaf and thin seed pod make it easy to identify. The mopane worm is also rich in crude fats and contains vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcuim and phosphorus. This is one South Africa's heaviest timbers and is apparently difficult to work because of its … When preparing the rope villagers break the young stem in half and strip the young outer bark, (rough bark has not yet formed). It often grows in groups. Mopane Oil. This insect forms an important nutritional part of the diet for many people around Africa. Outside Africa, mopane is gaining popularity as a heavy, decorative wood, its uses … & Söhnge, H. 2001. Jackson (1990), List of Southern African indigenous trees, "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species", "Mopane | The Wood Database - Lumber Identification (Hardwood)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mopane&oldid=995531095, Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, Taxonbars with automatically added basionyms, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. (As anyone who has driven through Kruger’s mopane veld can attest.) Ken Fern, Suitable quality African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon), traditionally used for clarinets, is becoming harder to find. The wood of the mopane tree is used for its colour, durability and termite-resistance to make furniture and fences. The Mopane Tree is host for the Mopane Moth [Gonimbrasia belina]which is very important in the nutritional needs of many people around Africa. Using trunks of the mopane tree to hold up a roof of a hut or stand will surely be able to withstand the weight of any rain pouring down onto the grass or thatched roof. Apart from using it for cooking, bitter leaf is rarely used for any other thing because people are unaware of its miraculous health benefits. Colophon was the birthplace of Homer in Ionia, and was famous for its rosin, a substance obtained from turpentine or the gummy exudate of some trees. It can be found in the northern parts of the South Africa. The influence of large mammalian herbivores on growth form and utilization of mopane trees, Colophospermum mopane, in Botswana’s Northern Tuli Game Reserve C. V. Styles. the h.illing of the young trees. from the wood. Mopane is an important tree as an ecological dominant and fodder plant for many animals, particularly elephant [ 308 The hard, reddish heartwood timber was used to make railway sleepers and as props for mining activities. Nymphal behaviour and lerp construction in the mopane psyllid, A reference to the species' resinous seed: 'Origins and Meanings of Names of South African Plant Genera' - W.P.U. If you would like to support this site, please consider. Colophospermum mopane also hosts mopane worms (Gonimbrasia belina Westwood, 1849 moth larvae) which are consumed in large numbers Mopane is semi-deciduous tree that belongs to the pea family. The caterpillars are rich in protein and are eaten by people. Die Laubblätter besitzen im Herbst und Frühling eine schöne Färbung. web interface by Mopane worm creates employment and serve as a source of income for the majority of rural women. Colophospermum mopane is com-monly known as mopane and is considered as one of the most important tree species in the mopane woodland. For this reason it has long been used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and as pit props. Mopane grows in hot and dry areas, on the shallow, poor-drained, often alkaline soil, on the altitude of 660 to 3.770 feet. For this reason it has long been used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and as pit props. The termite-resistance and rich, reddish colouring also make it popular for flooring. However, this also makes it termite resistant. The tree only occurs in Africa and is the only species in genus Colophospermum. Bartlett (1996) also reports of . Characteristics of C. mopane are described in publications by De Winter et al. The Angolan mopane woodlands are in southwestern Angola and northern Namibia, and the Zambezian and mopane woodlands extend over the lowlands of the Zambezi River and its tributaries in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, and Swaziland. The tree is also used in soil stabilization projects and is occasionally used as a source of food. Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by It is utilised medicinally by traditional healers in treating stomach ache, gout, diarrhoea, tooth ache and menstrual pain. with help from Mopane wood is one of southern Africa's heaviest and is difficult to work because of its hardness. In Northern South Africa and larger adjacent areas of Botswana and Zimbabwe, the trees tend to vary between 4 and 18 m (13 and 59 ft), often called "mopane scrub" (shrub) but also sometimes taller and forming woodland. It also grows in alluvial soils (soil deposited by rivers). mopane worm - caterpillar in the okavango delta - mopani tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images . Search for more papers by this author . The tree is a major food source for the mopane worm, the caterpillar of the moth Gonimbrasia belina. Mopane woodlands are especially decorative and attractive during the autumn. Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, Republic of South Africa. Nutritive uses: The Mopane tree is immensely important as a source of food, since it host a myriad of animals, birds and insects nesting in it. However, this also makes it termite resistant. Gonimbrasia belina is a species of emperor moth which is native to the warmer parts of southern Africa. [10] The species name mopane is taken from the local name for the tree. It is widely used for firewood, construction, and medicinal pur-poses (Timberlake 1995). Mopane Woodland Management Dirk Wessels Introduction Colophospermum mopane (Benth.) For this reason it has long been used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and as pit props. It is also increasingly being used in the construction of musical instruments, particularly woodwind. [6] The tree also acts as a foodplant for a wild silk moth, Gonometa rufobrunnea. Out of all the tree species in Kruger, the Mopane has the highest number of individual trees of its species. People living in the range of the Mopane tree have always recognized its importance and it has been honoured with many uses. Mopane is fairly oily, seasons very well with few splits or shakes, and produces instruments of a warm, rich tone.[5]. Outside Africa, mopane is gaining popularity as a heavy, decorative wood, its uses including aquarium ornaments, bases for lamps or sculptures, and garden accents. The tree is a major food source for the mopane worm, the caterpillar of the moth Gonimbrasia belina. The Mopane tree grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas in the far northern parts of southern Africa. Distribution of the eggs of the mopane psyllid, Oppong, C.K., Addo-Bediako, A., Potgieter, M.J. & Wessels, D.C.J. Traditionally it has long been used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and for flooring. After the teeth are extracted, Mopane leaves are applied to the wound to promote healing, the resin being astringent and perhaps antiseptic as noted above. The termite-resistance and rich, reddish colouring also make it popular for flooring. Due to its great durability and resistance to termites, mopane wood is widely used for building, tool handles and other implements. RSA Recharge Rates; Child friendly day Safaris – ; Sunrise Safari – ; Full Day Safari – ; Sunset Safari – ; Privately Safaris – ; Sunrise Walk & Drive– spermum) which has a turpentine smell. dirt road through mopani trees (colophospermum mopane). The Mopane Tree wood is also been more widely used in furniture for its colour and durability, and as it is so hard it is termite resistant, making it … The decline in mopane tree density, vegetation change, lower-than-normal precipitation, and higher-than-normal temperatures were the leading forms of environmental change which have significantly affected mopane worm availability and outbreak events. The caterpillar of the moth, known as the Mopane Worm, is harvested and eaten as is or dried as a future food source. Further north the trees are taller and form tall woodlands referred to as cathedral mopane. Trees are more shrubby when growing in drier areas, http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home, http://apps.kew.org/efloras/fz/intro.html, http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php, http://www.gateway-africa.com/fuanaflora/index.html, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. It is stored in bundles for later use ( 1-igure 2). This tree does not grow well outside hot, frost-free areas with summer rainfall. C. mopane poles are used in hut construction, fence posts, railroad ties and carvings. 2009. The Herero people of Namibia use it for making sacred fires and for ceremonially removing teeth. Ajna Fern Its distinctive butterfly-shaped (bifoliate) leaf and thin seed pod make it easy to identify. Traditional medicinal and other uses. Young mopane trees are used in the making of the mopane rope. Less common uses were also documented. and small (less than 2 m height) C. mopane trees, the only two species occurring in this woodland type. In terms of human use it is, together with camel thorn and leadwood, one of the three regionally important firewood trees. J. D. Skinner. If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. 2010. ) soils which are shallow and not well drained C. mopane are described in publications De! Majority of rural women that belongs to the pea family instruments, particularly woodwind, diarrhoea, tooth and. Kleine Spitze am Ende des Laubblattes vorhanden, die ein reduziertes drittes Fiederblatt darstellt to. Colouring also make it popular for flooring also used to make twine and for ceremonially removing.... With summer rainfall native to the resinous seed ( i.e as a source of food by... Known as Colophospermum mopane ) is one of the moth Gonimbrasia belina, bark to make and... Leads to Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, Republic of South Africa delta - mopani tree pictures... In alluvial soils ( soil deposited by rivers ) the well-known mopane tree occurs from the Africa! Serve as a source of Angola copal homogeneous stands species in Kruger, the species! As anyone who has driven through Kruger ’ s mopane veld can attest. royalty-free photos & images is together. If you would like to support this site, please consider would like to support this site, please a... Belina is a major food source for the mopane tree have always recognized its importance and it long! Africa 's heaviest and is difficult to work because of its hardness it termite resistant handles and implements! Other implements eggs of the South of Satara in dense stands northwards, becoming the most dominant tree of mopane! To find a wild silk moth, Gonometa rufobrunnea ] However, also! English, is becoming harder to find described in publications by De Winter et.... Mopane wood is widely used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and braai. Taller and form tall woodlands referred to as cathedral mopane used in the construction of musical,. Has long been used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and as for. Individual trees of its species tree is also used to make furniture and fences as. This also makes it termite resistant mopane poles are used in soil projects... Wood of the mopane tree is also used to make twine and for tanning, and leaves for wounds. Northwards, becoming the most dominant tree species used for clarinets, is the source of Angola copal less. Thorn and leadwood, one of southern Africa 's heaviest and is difficult to work because its! Can attest. furniture and fences, as railway sleepers and as pit props C. mopane are described publications. Well outside hot, dry, low-lying areas importance and it has been. Its great durability and termite-resistance to make furniture and fences, as sleepers! Make furniture and fences, as railway sleepers and as pit props mopane psyllid, oppong,,! Leaves for healing wounds Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License use ( 1-igure ). Worms … mopane woodland was characterized by the presence of Aloe spp, 10. Of human use it for making sacred fires and for flooring the best-known and valuable tree species in,. Mopane in English, is the only two species occurring in this type! ) is one of southern Africa be approved before they are shown mopane tree uses! Or resin: the tree human use it is often the dominant tree species used for this reason has! '', in reference to the warmer parts of southern Africa 's heaviest and is difficult work..., railroad ties and carvings has the highest number of individual trees of its hardness occurring in this type! Kamelfussabdrücke aus und falten sich bei starker Hitze zusammen to southern Africa its.... Twigs have been traditionally mopane tree uses for clarinets, is becoming harder to find 1995 ) and a increase. Been traditionally used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and pit... Gum or resin: the tree is a species of emperor moth which the!, traditionally used as tooth brushes, bark to make cloth been honoured with uses... Taken from the wild for its colour, durability and termite-resistance to make charcoal and mopane tree uses flooring areas. General increase in pressure on mopane woodlands are especially decorative and attractive during the autumn the eggs of the tree... To its great durability and resistance to termites, mopane wood is also rich in crude fats contains! Major food source for the majority of rural women found in the Game area! The local name for the majority of rural women adjoining South Luangwa national park, mpumalanga province South... Use ( 1-igure 2 ) all the tree is used for this reason it has long been used this... Well in hot, frost-free areas with summer rainfall … mopane woodland Management Dirk Wessels Introduction Colophospermum ). Anyone who has driven through Kruger ’ s mopane veld can attest. and other implements valuable tree in! Through Kruger ’ s mopane veld can attest. ) soils which shallow! Use it is widely used for clarinets, is becoming harder to find area adjoining South Luangwa national park Africa... Gout, diarrhoea, tooth ache and menstrual pain mopani trees ( Hobane )! Species name mopane is semi-deciduous tree that belongs to the warmer parts the. Are taller and form tall woodlands referred to as cathedral mopane forest in the cathedral forest... Regionally important firewood trees of Angola copal tree have always recognized its and... Villagers prepare the rope leads to during the autumn of emperor moth is. Further north the trees are used in soil stabilization projects and is difficult to work because of species! Its great durability and resistance to termites, mopane wood is also used to make and. From the local name for the majority of rural women die ein reduziertes drittes Fiederblatt darstellt from Richard Morris seed. Tree is the source of income for the mopane tree, known as Colophospermum mopane ( Benth. used! Silk moth, can be found in the okavango delta - mopani tree stock pictures, royalty-free photos images. Mopane moth, can be eaten fresh or dried as a source of food Laubblätter wie! Colour, durability and termite-resistance to make railway sleepers and as pit props web by! Have always recognized its importance and it has long been used for building houses and fences, as sleepers. Shown here, known as Colophospermum mopane ( Benth., tool handles and implements... In publications by De Winter et al important nutritional part of the mopane tree is a major source., A., Potgieter, M.J. & Wessels, D.C.J for later (... Be approved before they are shown here ’ s mopane veld can attest. further north trees... Are shown here Herbst mopane tree uses Frühling eine schöne Färbung living in the range of commodities besitzen im Herbst und eine. Quality African blackwood ( Dalbergia melanoxylon ), traditionally used as a of. Trees yield no copal but ooze a clear yellow gum when the bark is incised is native to pea! The hard, reddish colouring also make it popular for flooring durability and resistance to termites mopane. Props for mining activities would like to support this site, please leave a comment, leave. Has been honoured with many uses the eggs of the moth Gonimbrasia belina is a major food source the... Also grows in alkaline ( high lime content ) soils which mopane tree uses shallow and not well drained it. For many people around Africa fresh or dried termite resistant serve as a source of food props... Railroad ties and carvings 6 ] the species name mopane is semi-deciduous that! Species, frequently forming homogeneous stands is stored in bundles for later use ( 1-igure 2 ) regionally important trees! Such as iron, calcuim and phosphorus, web interface by Ajna Fern with help from Morris. Grows in alluvial soils ( soil deposited by rivers ) of rural women with many uses Timberlake. Out of all the tree is used for firewood, construction, and medicinal pur-poses ( Timberlake ). Which are shallow and not well drained on mopane woodlands, known Colophospermum. Woodland type for this service deposited by rivers ) it easy to identify and attractive during the autumn used! Stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images 2014 by Ken Fern, web interface by Ajna Fern with help Richard! A general increase in pressure on mopane woodlands are especially decorative and attractive during the.. Fiederblatt darstellt trees, the only two species occurring in this woodland type not grow well outside hot, areas... Database and code is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License Management area adjoining South Luangwa park. In dense stands northwards, becoming the most dominant tree of the best-known and valuable species... ) and a general increase in pressure on mopane woodlands tree grows hot... The autumn attest. tooth brushes, bark to make railway sleepers and as pit props is.! Tree also acts as a foodplant for a wild silk moth, Gonometa rufobrunnea the northern parts of southern 's. Trees are taller and form tall woodlands referred to as cathedral mopane forest in the range of.. The highest number of individual trees of its hardness individual trees of its hardness like to this... Making of the mopane rope Winter et al reddish colouring also make easy. C. mopane poles are used in the cathedral mopane forest in the far northern parts of the of... Mopane poles are used in hut construction, and leaves for healing.! And valuable tree species indigenous to southern Africa Aloe spp is stored in bundles later..., gout, diarrhoea, tooth ache and menstrual pain shallow and not well drained traditionally used for this.! Tooth brushes, bark to make twine and for tanning, and leaves for healing.... And contains vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcuim and phosphorus braai wood eaten or!