The common decidious tree in Zimbabwe:MSASA

Botanical name:Brachystegia spiciformis
English name :Msasa
Chishona name:Monhondo,Musasa
National tree number:252
Description:
A relatively medium to large tree ,8 to 15 metres in height ,the branches are heavy ,thrusting upwards and outwards ,often twisting and curving, producing a well balance plant and is the most scattered tree species in Zimbabwe.Its dominants and ecological importance over many areas giving many people to think that savanna woodlands is this species which occurring in open areas and are known as the decidious woodlands.This trees tolerate various soil types ranging from heavy clay to poor sand soils.
The bark is pale grey and smooth when young,then becoming rough ,dark grey ,deeply fissured vertically and coarsely ,horizontally cracked,slowly flacking in thick ,irregular scales.
Leaves are pendulous ,dark green ,shiny leafylets usually in four pairs ,the terminal pair being the largest oblong -elliptic ,2,5 to 8x1 to 4,5 cm with or without very fine hairs ,stipules are like threads falling very early.
Flowers are small ,greenish which are short,dense with thickset terminal spikes ,3 to 6 cm long .Frowers produce a very sweet scent.
Fruits are large wood pods which are flat upto 14cm in length .The colours are brown and very smooth when matured.
Diagnostic characters:Flowering period begin in early August to November .Fruit development begin in May and matures in August where the pods splitting exposively scattering seeds at a considerable distances which eventually grow to make the msasa woodlands.
Dstribution:Msasa is the most tree species which densely cover the whole of Zimbabwe and well spersed in Zambezi valley, Limpopo valley and a strip along border with Botswana up to Victoria falls.Hence msasa become the major woodlands of Zimbabwe and the commonly used wood in domestic uses of the Bantu people.
Habitat:Open woodland or in wooded grasslands common in all tropical conditons including the semi-arid to arid areas.
Economic uses:The young leaves branches and leaves are good good for both grazers and blowsers especially during the late winter,spring and early summers where the only green plants is this decidious species. The seeds also eaten by various animals in the bush.This is the neatest indigenous species in the indigenous forests of Zimbabwe.Like the Mupfuti trees the Msasa barks contain 13% tanin which is the best ingredient in tanning industry.The major source of energy in Zimbabwe is fuelwood especially in rural areas.Msasa is the most reliable source of energy ,even to the tobacco farmers.Msasa worms are also excellent source of protein to those who need this worms as food which are known as "madora" by the chishona bantu people.
The flush colours of the young leaves which vary from pale fawn to deep claret -red and these trees are important among contributors to the splendid in spring and all year round are among the most beautiful trees in the world.This attracted most of the visitors who feel relaxed and much serenity when admiring the blosom of the vegetation.The tourist enjoy the good shade provideded by these trees which is cool and very pleasant whilst walking in the bushes.
The brown wood is usde by the local people in general timber purposes at their home,although it is not durable.
Other uses:An in fusion of roots provide treatment for dysentery and diarrhoea and decoction is applied as an eyewash in cases of conjunctivitis.The stripped barks if chewed is good at relieving constipation .This stripped barks which is soft used for general tying purposes at home including thatching and other crafts work.
Propagation:The seeds can easily put into wet soils and germinate readily ,but the seedlings are difficult to transplant and this species are very slow to grow.It is very necessary to conserve this in its original woodlands and avoid frequent veld fires which is a threat to the survival of this species.This species succesfully hybridised with B. glaucescens and B. microphylla .
SOURCE OF INFORMATION
Palgrave K.C. and Drummond R.B(1993)Trees of Southern Africa ,The Struik Group p/l ,Cape Town