Pterocarpus rotundifolius subsp. rotundifolius

Pterocarpus rotundifolius subsp. rotundifolius is a shrub or tree of variable size, commonly below 10 m in height, occasionally reaching 20 m (SA Tree List No. 237).

The pea-shaped deep yellow flowers with crinkly petals grow in axillary and terminal sprays of up to 15 cm long. Spectacular flowering may be seen from spring when the leaves sprout to midsummer, depending on the weather. Flowering on a specific tree lasts two to three weeks, but later rain may cause it to repeat the performance. Bee-keepers like to have hives close to these trees in season.

The pods are flat and indehiscent, up to 3,5 cm long and nearly as wide. They usually contain only a single seed and are not nearly as conspicuous as those of P. angolensis.

This is a tree of the north-eastern parts of South Africa, north of the Vaal River and in northern KwaZulu-Natal. It occurs widespread in tropical Africa.

The habitat is woodland and bushveld over a wide range of altitudes. The subspecies is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; http://redlist.sanbi.org).