Peltophorum africanum is a small to medium-size semi-deciduous to deciduous
tree of about 15Ft to 30 Ft tall, with a spreading crown, frequently branched
from near the ground or 2- to 3-stemmed from ground level; bark smooth and
grey on the young branches; twigs covered in reddish-brown hairs, but brown to
grey and rough with lengthwise grooves on older branches and stems. Leaves
alternate, compound, bipinnate, with 4-7 pairs of pinnae, each bearing up to
23 pairs of feathery leaflets; leaflets oblong, variable in size, dull green
top side, pale green underside; apex rounded with a fine, hairlike tip; base
asymmetric; margin entire; petiole and rachis covered with dense, rusty brown,
velvety hairs; stipule distinctive in appearance, like small compound leaves,
but falling early; when not in flower P. africanum can easily be confused with
an acacia tree, except that it is completely without thorns. Flowers 7" long;
all floral parts in 5s; flower stalks and the backs of sepals covered with
brown, velvety hairs; petals about .5" in diameter, bright yellow and
crinkled. The flowers are a source of pollen for bees. Fruit a flat pod,
elliptic, tapering to apex and base, up to 5" x 1" with a winglike margin,
very thinly woody, almost leathery, greyish-brown or yellow-tan and ripening
to a dark brown, hanging in dense clusters.
Identification credit: Tabish
Photographed in Shakti Sthal, Delhi.
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The flower labeled African Wattle is ...
ntroduced
