ZYGOPHYLLACEAE
Balanites maughamii
Torchwood
Trees & Shrubs
No photos available
Local Context
Not very common in Raptor's View, but a a regular in the Lowveld. It occurs al the way north to Kenya in open woodland, forests, dry shrublands, near springs, and in pans.Identification
- Growth: Large deciduous tree (up to 20 m) with a fluted trunk and prominent, stout, Y-forked green spines.
- Leaves: Distinctive 2-foliolate (two asymmetric oval leaflets per leaf), thick and leathery.
- Flowers: Small, scented, greenish-yellow clusters with velvety petals.
- Fruit: Large, grooved, oval fruit (4–8 cm) ripening pale reddish-brown with a woody core.
- Texture: Velvety young shoots and flower stalks.
Did You Know?
The Torchwood tree earns its name from its oil-rich seeds, which burn so brightly that they can be used directly as natural torches. Beyond providing light, the tree possesses remarkable biochemical properties: fishermen traditionally use its bark and fruits to temporarily stun fish for easy harvesting, while its fruit serves as a natural weapon against the Bilharzia parasite. Though safe for humans and animals to eat, the unripe fruit and bark release compounds into stagnant water that selectively kill the freshwater snails hosting the disease.