Mopane Potato Bush

pinnatus: pinnate, referring to the resemblance of the branchlets to pinnate leaves.

Deciduous shrub or small tree. Bark smooth, mottled grey, sometimes flaking. Leaves alternate along lateral branchlets, giving the impression of compound leaves, elliptic to oblong, usually 1-2 cm long. Flowers in fragrant clusters (male) or solitary (female) on older branchlets, yellowish-green, unisexual on different plants, flowering before the new leaves. Female flowers solitary along very thin branchlets appearing as racemes. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule, c. 10 mm in diameter, yellowish.

Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique,Limpopo and Mpumalanga, South Africa. Also in India and Sri Lanka.