Where are mopane trees found?
Worldwide distribution: Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Limpopo, South Africa, just entering northern Mpumalanga.
Where does Mopani wood come from?
Southern Africa
The Mopani, or Mopane, tree is an exotic species from Southern Africa. It is a very heavy wood that is resistant to termites. Popular for woodwind instruments, Mopani is favored for its warm, rich tone. It is also used in high-end furniture and inlay work.
What is the scientific name for Mopane?
Colophospermum mopane
Mopane/Scientific names
How are the mopane leaves used by a patient?
There also many medicinal uses of this beneficial tree. Among other applications, Mopane products are used in the treatment of sore eyes, stomach cramps and kidney stones, and as a disinfectant for wounds. A rough covering encases the Mopane seed, which is dotted with tiny globules of golden resin.
Which part of the mopane tree is used as medicine?
Colophospermum mopane is used in the preparation of traditional medicines. In Namibia extracts from heated wood or the fibres from chewed leaves are used to treat slow-healing wounds or to stop bleeding of wounds. Topnaar people in Namibia drink a decoction of the leaves against colds.
How does a mopane tree look like?
Description: Shrub or small tree, may reach up to 15 m in very favourable conditions. The bark is dark gray and strongly fissured, with the leaves looking like a butterfly wing. The Mopane occurs central and northern Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.
How do you identify a Mopani wood?
Mopani Wood is one of the most diverse looking driftwood of them all. The roots traded amongst hobbyists have no significant appearance easily identifiable. Mopane can take on the look of a tree trunk or narrow branches that twist and curl in random directions.
How do you remove tannins from Mopani?
Like any wood, Mopani will impart some tannins into the water after it’s submerged, so if you’re not into “the tint”, you probably want to soak it in freshwater for a week or two to “crack off” some of the initial burst of tannins and other organics contained in the wood structure.
How healthy is mopane worms?
The mopane worm is a healthful and cheap source of nutrition. A Zimbabwean nutritionist, Marlon Chidemo, says the worms are high in healthy nutrients and contain three times the amount of protein as beef.
Is mopane a hardwood?
Mopane is a durable, very high-density African hardwood with exceptional musical tonal qualities….
| Botanical name | Colophospermum mopane |
|---|---|
| English name | Mopane |
| Distribution | Northern Province of South Africa, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
What does a mopane tree look like?
The mopane can be a shrub or a tall tree up to 30 m in the northern part of its range, depending on soil conditions and water availability. It has a tall, narrow crown. It is a deciduous (sometimes semi-deciduous) tree with lovely autumn and spring colours. Sprays of small, green flowers appear in December and January.
How long does it take for Mopani wood leach tannins?
Second, this wood absolutely DOES leech tannins. Given the size of the piece of wood I received, I boiled mine for about 10 hours (changing the water approximately every hour).
Where does Colophospermum mopane grow in South Africa?
It has a rough, ropey appearance and is very distinctive. Colophospermum mopane grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, 200-1150 m, in the far northern parts of South Africa, into Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi. It is found growing in alkaline (high lime content) soils which are shallow and not well drained.
What are the names of the Colophospermum tree?
Colophospermum mopane. Previous Names: Copaiba mopane, Copaifera mopane, Hardwickia mopane. RSA Tree No. 198. Common names: (A) Mapaane, Mopaane, Mopane, Mopanie, Mopaniehout, Terpentynboom, Witysterhout, Ysterhout.
How are the leaves of Colophospermum mopane divided?
The compound leaves are divided in two so that the leaflets resemble butterfly wings or a camel’s foot. There is a tiny point at the join of the two leaflets which is the remnant of a third, terminal leaflet.
Where does the genus name mopane come from?
The species name, mopane, is taken from the local name for the tree. The genus Colophospermum only occurs in Africa and there is only one species in the genus. The mopane is in the pea family (Fabaceae). This huge and important family is further divided into three subfamilies; the mopane lies within the Caesalpinioideae.