Botanical name

Pterocarpus rotundifolius (SA No 237)

Other names

Round-leaved bloodwood; dopperkiaat (Afrikaans); iNdlandlovu (Zulu)

Family

Papilionoideae

Dimensions

Often a shrub, sometimes a tree reaching height beyond 8 m

Description of stem

The bark is variable, brown or grey, smooth, fissured, flaking or rough

Description of leaves

Compound with a terminal leaflet; the leaflets are round to ovate; darker above than below; margins entire; some forms have hairy leaves, but others may often be glabrous

Description of flowers

Pea-shaped, yellow, in both axillary and terminal clusters, appear in spring or summer

Description of seed/fruit

A thick flat pod surrounded by thin round membrane or wing

Description of roots

Taproot

Variation

At least three forms varying in the number of leaflets, hairiness and distribution area have been noted

Propagation and cultivation

The tree is a garden subject offered by some nurseries

Tolerances

Frost sensitive, young trees need protection in colder areas

Uses

The wood is used in various ways, although it is not easy to work and not very durable; good pollen for bee-keeping

Ecological rarity

Common

Pests and diseases

 

Other

The wood is light-coloured

Location

Wooded grassland

Distribution (SA provinces)

Limpopo; Mpumalanga; Kwazulu-Natal; North West

Country

South Africa; Swaziland; Mozambique; Zimbabwe; Botswana; Zambia; Namibia; Angola


Photographed by Johannes Vogel

Photographed by Johannes Vogel