Balanites maughamii crown

The compound leaves of Balanites maughamii grow in pairs, the leaflets ovate and obliquely asymmetrical, borne among conspicuous, somewhat unequally forked spines. The leaflets are velvety with hairs when young, persistent on the lower surfaces; leaf surfaces are dark green and leathery. Leaf margins are entire, rounded at base and tip. Leaf stalks may be up to 7 cm long.

The flowers growing in axillary clusters are small (about 2 mm), yellowish green and inconspicuous. The thinly fleshy fruit, yellowish in colour, with its hard kernel has five grooves at the base (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).