Xanthocercis zambesiaca

Xanthocercis zambesiaca (Mashatu tree or Nyala tree) is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. It is found in Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.[1]

Xanthocercis zambesiaca
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Xanthocercis
Species:
X. zambesiaca
Binomial name
Xanthocercis zambesiaca
(Baker) Dumaz-le-Grand
Synonyms
  • Pseudocadia zambesiaca (Baker) Harms
  • Sophora zambesiaca Baker

Nyala trees grow along rivers or termite mounds where they have access to plentiful moisture and fertile soil. They are prolific in the Tuli Block of Botswana along the Limpopo and Shashe rivers where they are known as Mashatu trees. The Nyala tree is a phreatophyte - it indicates the presence of ground water. The wood of a nyala tree can be worked, finishing with a smooth appearance, but irritates the nose and throat in the process.[2]

References
  1. "Xanthocercis zambesiaca". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  2. Emmett, Megan; Pattrick, Sean (2012). Game Ranger in Your Backpack: All-in-one Interpretative Guide to the Lowveld. Briza. ISBN 978-1-920217-06-8.


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