Pseudospondias microcarpa (A. Rich.) Engl.

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Ferme Randu, southwest Katanga Province, DRC.
Photo: Jos Stevens

Photo: Alexandra Ley
Yaekela, Tshopo

Photo: Bart Wursten
Yaofa, Aruwimi River, upstream from Bomane

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Synonyms:	Pseudospondias microcarpa (A.Rich.) Engl. var. hirsuta Brenan Sorindeia obliquifoliolata Engl. Sorindeia obtusifoliolata var. parvifoliolata Engl. Spondias angolensis O.Hoffm. Spondias microcarpa A.Rich. Spondias zanzee G.Don
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	A tall shrub with the main stems stout and spreading, or more often a tree up to 35 m high; bole usually short, 3–18 m tall and up to 2 m in diam., twisted, strongly buttressed; bark greyish-yellow, falling off in large flakes. Leaves 5-17-foliolate; petiole and rhachis 10-50 cm long, striate, glabrous, rarely pubescent; petiole dorsally convex, flat above; rhachis subcylindric; leaflets opposite or alternate, discolorous, sometimes shining, 5-20 × 3-8 cm, oblong-ovate to elliptic, the basal ones smaller, the terminal one symmetrically cuneate at the base, the others very asymmetric, entire; petiolules 0·3-1 cm long, grooved, glabrous or pubescent. Panicles up to as long as the leaves or longer, with the axis and branches dull-brownish-red, puberulous. Male flowers: sepals 4(5), 0.8-1 mm long, ovate, obtuse, glabrous; petals whitish, 1.5-2.2 × 1-1.25 mm, elliptic; stamens 8(10), with very short filaments and 0.3-0.5 mm long anthers. Female flowers: ovary globose, 4(5)-locular; styles 4. Drupe blue-black when ripe, 1.5-2.5 × 1-1.8 cm, broadly ellipsoid when fresh; stone oblong-ovoid to obovoid, 4(5)-gonal, 4(5)-locular (usually only 1 loculus fertile), with 4(5) opercules near the apex. Seed 10-15 × 2-4 mm, oblong.
Type location:	Senegal
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	microcarpa: with small fruits.
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Jul - Aug
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in West, Central and East Africa
Growth form(s):	Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 22. Fernandes, R. & A. (1966). Anacardiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(2) Pages 555 - 556. (Includes a picture). Kativu, S. (2008). Alliaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(1) Page 22. Meerts, P. & Hasson, M. (2016). Arbres et arbustes du Haut-Katanga Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Page 326. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 47. Pauwels, L. (1993). Nzayilu N'ti Guide des arbres et arbustes de la region de Kinshasa - Brazzaville Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, Bruxelles Page 94. (Includes a picture). Troupin, G. (1983). Anacardiaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Page 295. (Includes a picture). White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia Oxford Univ. Press. Page 211.

Other sources of information about Pseudospondias microcarpa:

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Flora of the DRC: Pseudospondias microcarpa
Flora of Mozambique: Pseudospondias microcarpa
Flora of Rwanda: Pseudospondias microcarpa
Flora of Zambia: Pseudospondias microcarpa
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Pseudospondias microcarpa

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Pseudospondias microcarpa
African Plant Database: Pseudospondias microcarpa
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Pseudospondias microcarpa
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Pseudospondias microcarpa
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Pseudospondias microcarpa
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Pseudospondias microcarpa
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Pseudospondias microcarpa
JSTOR Plant Science: Pseudospondias microcarpa
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Pseudospondias microcarpa
Plants of the World Online: Pseudospondias microcarpa
Tropicos: Pseudospondias microcarpa
Wikipedia: Pseudospondias microcarpa