The mopane or mopani (Colophospermum mopane) tree grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, 200-1,150 m, in the far northern parts of South Africa, into Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi. The genus Colophospermum only occurs in Africa and is there only the one species in the genus. The species name mopane is taken from the local name for the tree. The mopane is in the legume family (Fabaceae). Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ... Divisions Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta - liverworts Anthocerotophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongues Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering plants Adiantum pedatum (a fern... Classes Magnoliopsida- Dicots Liliopsida- Monocots The flowering plants (also called angiosperms) are a major group of land plants. ... Young castor oil plant showing its prominent two embryonic leaves (cotyledons), that differ from the adult leaves An example of a trimerous and non-eudicot flower: Magnolia Dicotyledons or dicots are a group of flowering plants whose seed typically contains two embryonic leaves or cotyledons. ... Families Fabaceae (legumes) Quillajaceae Polygalaceae (milkwort family) Surianaceae The Fabales are an order of flowering plants, included in the rosid group of dicotyledons. ... Subfamilies Faboideae Caesalpinioideae Mimosoideae References GRIN-CA 2002-09-01 The name Fabaceae belongs to either of two families, depending on viewpoint. ... Tribes Cassieae Caesalpinieae Cercideae Detarieae Caesalpinioideae is a botanical name at the rank of subfamily, placed in the large family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. ... Genera The tribe Detarieae is one of the subdivisions of the plant family Fabaceae, which includes the legumes. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Thomas Kirk (died 1797) was a noted English artist and engraver of the late 18th century. ... George Bentham George Bentham (September 22, 1800 – September 10, 1884) was an English botanist, perhaps the greatest systematic botanist of the 19th century. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. ... In biology, a species is the basic unit of biodiversity. ... In biology, a genus (plural genera) is a taxonomic grouping. ... Varieties of soybean seeds, a popular legume Pea pods The term legume has two closely related meanings in botany, a situation encountered with many botanical common names of useful plants, whereby an applied name can refer to either the plant itself, or to the edible fruit (or useful part). ... Subfamilies Faboideae Caesalpinioideae Mimosoideae References GRIN-CA 2002-09-01 The name Fabaceae belongs to either of two families, depending on viewpoint. ...

Distribution of Mopane

It is found growing in alkaline (high lime content) soils which are shallow and not well drained. It also grows in alluvial soils (soil deposited by rivers). In South Africa and adjacent areas of Botswana and Zimbabwe, the trees tend to vary between 4 and 18 m, often called mopane scrub but also sometimes taller and forming woodland, where further north the trees are taller and form tall woodlands referred to as cathedral mopane. This tree does not grow well outside of suitable hot, frost-free, summer rainfall areas. Image File history File links Mopane-Distribution-small. ... Image File history File links Mopane-Distribution-small. ...

Its distinctive butterfly-shaped leaf and thin, flimsy seed pod make it easy to identify. To man it forms, together with camel thorn and leadwood, one of the triad of definitive firewood trees. The name Colophospermum is Greek for oily seed, in reference to the resinous seeds. The part of the name, colophos, apparently refers to the strong turpentine smell of the resin. Colophony is another name for rosin, a substance obtained from turpentine. Families Superfamily Hesperioidea: Hesperiidae Superfamily Papilionoidea: Papilionidae Pieridae Nymphalidae Lycaenidae Riodinidae A butterfly is an insect of the Order Lepidoptera, and belongs to one of the superfamilies Hesperioidea (the skippers) or Papilionoidea (all other butterflies). ... Leadwood is used in the following contexts: Leadwood, Missouri is a town in the USA. The Leadwood tree, Combretum imberbe is an African tree. ... Wood burning is the largest current use of biomass derived energy. ... A ripe red jalapeno cut open to show the seeds For other uses, see Seed (disambiguation). ... Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the complex distillation of resin obtained from trees, mainly various species of pine (Pinus). ...

Branch of a Mopane tree, with a Mopane worm on it. Immediately below the caterpillar, a pair of distinctive, butterfly-shaped leaves have survived

The leaves are the food source for the mopane worm, the caterpillar of the moth Gonimbrasia belina. The caterpillars are covered with long bright green or orange hairs, are rich in protein and are eaten by people, either roasted or dried. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (983x683, 600 KB) Summary Description: Mopane worm (phane or Gonimbrasia belina) on mopane tree (Colophospermum mopane) in Palapye, Botswana. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (983x683, 600 KB) Summary Description: Mopane worm (phane or Gonimbrasia belina) on mopane tree (Colophospermum mopane) in Palapye, Botswana. ... Binomial name Gonimbrasia belina (Linnaeus, 1758) The mopani or mopane worm (Gonimbrasia belina) is a large edible caterpillar that is found in much of southern Africa. ... Binomial name Gonimbrasia belina (Linnaeus, 1758) The mopani or mopane worm (Gonimbrasia belina) is a large edible caterpillar that is found in much of southern Africa. ... The striking caterpillar of the Emperor Gum Moth This article is about insect larva. ... // Moths and Mouths A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly. ...

Uses

Mopane wood is one of southern Africa's heaviest timbers and is difficult to work because of its hardness. However this also makes it termite resistant. It is therefore a popular choice for flooring, and is traditionally used for fencing and making houses. The hard, reddish heartwood timber is used for railway sleepers and as props for mining activities. Families Reticulitermes spp. ...

Mopane is finding increasing use in the construction of musical instruments, particularly woodwind. The African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) traditionally used for clarinets is becoming harder to find of suitable quality. Mopane, which is fairly oily, seasons very well with few splits or shakes, and produces instruments of a warm, rich tone. A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument in which sound is produced by blowing through a mouthpiece against an edge or by a vibrating reed, and in which the pitch is varied by opening or closing holes in the body of the instrument. ... Binomial name Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. ...

Other traditional uses of the mopane tree include chewing the twigs as tooth brushes, using the bark to make twine and for tanning, and using the leaves for healing wounds. Tanning is the process of making leather from skin. ...

Mopane is increasingly being used in North America and Europe as a decorative wood because of its rich coloring and texture. Some known areas of use include decorations in gardens, aquariums and ponds, terrariums, floral displays, taxidermy mounts, table centerpieces, lamp bases, and bases for sculptures because of its beauty and weight.

The sale of dried mopane worms is an important income source for many people, contributing significantly to rural economies, and cocoons of the caterpillar of the moth Gonometa rufobrunnea are harvested as wild silk, to make cloth. Silk weaver Silk is a natural protein fiber that can be woven into textiles. ...

References

• Esterhuyse, N., Von Breitenbach, J. & Söhnge, H. 2001. Remarkable trees of South Africa. Briza Publications, Pretoria.
• Prosono international Comparison of woods for musical instruments. Retrieved 30 March 2006.
• Ferwerda, J.G. (2005) Charting the quality of forage : measuring and mapping the variation of chemical components in foliage with hyperspectral remote sensing. Wageningen, Wageningen University, 2005. ITC Dissertation 126, 166 p. ISBN: 90-8504-209-7.