African Blackwood
Dalbergia melanoxylon
Observed in a protected area at Nairobi National Park, Kenya. October 2016.
FLOWERS: Dense clusters of small, white pea-flowers appear when tree is partly leafless during dry season.
The flowers are attractive to a wide variety of insects, bees and even sunbirds.
TREE: Small tree size up to 15 m. Smooth, gray-brown bark.
tall.
LEAVES: Leaves are pinnate with about 3 to 6 pairs of ovate leaflets. Dry season deciduous.
RANGE: Previously an important tree in seasonally dry woodlands, but now uncommon due to over-harvesting for wood.
FRUIT: A flattened, wing-like bean pod with a one or two seeds.
ARMED: Some clusters of straight spines derived from the shoots.