Brachystegia spiciformis, commonly known as zebrawood (not the genuine zebrawood, Microberlinia brazzavillensis), or msasa (spelled as masasa), is a medium-sized African tree having compound leaves and racemes of small fragrant green flowers. The tree is broad and has a distinctive amber and wine red colour when the young leaves sprout during spring (August–September). It grows in savanna, both open woodland and closed woodland of Southern and Eastern Africa, mostly Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Msasa being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Julbernardia globiflora
- Copaifera langsdorffii
- Afzelia quanzensis
- Enterolobium gummiferum
- Schotia brachypetala
- Burkea africana
Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Order
- Fabales
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Genus
- Brachystegia
- Species
- Brachystegia spiciformis
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