Isoberlinia Craib & Stapf

First published in Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew, Addit. Ser. 9: 266 (1911)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical Africa.

Descriptions

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit
Unarmed trees
Morphology Leaves
Leaves paripinnate; stipules intrapetiolar, connate, or free in their upper part; leaflets opposite or subopposite, in 2–5 pairs, petiolulate, ± unequal-sided at base, without translucent gland-dots
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence normally paniculate; branches racemose or paniculate; bracteoles 2, well-developed, valvate, completely enclosing the flower-buds, persistent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium tubular, 2.5–8 mm. long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals (4–)5(–7), subequal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5(–6); usually all well-developed, but the upper one always somewhat longer or wider than the others and often of a different shape
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10 (–14); filaments free, exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary sessile to shortly stipitate, and inserted on the tube of the hypanthium; ovules 4–8
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod dehiscing elastically or explosively into 2 flattened smooth or sometimes obliquely nerved woody valves; upper suture not at all winged
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds compressed, ± obovate-elliptic, with thin testa and short funicle.
[FTEA]

Legumes of the World. Edited by G. Lewis, B. Schrire, B. MacKinder & M. Lock. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (2005)

Vernacular
doka, mbarika, mtondo, abogo
Habit
Trees or shrubs
Ecology
Seasonally dry tropical forest and woodland (the E Tanzanian sp. occurs in lowland to upland rain forest); species often occur in monodominant stands
Distribution
Africa (4 spp. widespread in Sudanian to Zambezian woodland; 1 sp. in Zanzibar-Inhambane E Tanzania)
Note
Placed within the exclusively African Macrolobieae clade (sensu Bruneau et al., 2001) but generic affinities remain unclear
[LOWO]

Leguminosae, R.K. Brummitt, A.C. Chikuni, J.M. Lock & R.M. Polhill. Flora Zambesiaca 3:2. 2007

Morphology General Habit
Unarmed trees or shrubs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves paripinnate; leaflets in 2–5 pairs, opposite or subopposite, petiolulate, asymmetric at base, without translucent dots; stipules intrapetiolar, connate, free above.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences normally paniculate; bracteoles 2, well developed, valvate, completely enclosing the flower buds, persistent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium tubular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals (4)5(7), subequal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5(6), usually all well developed; upper petal longer or wider than the rest and often differently shaped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10(14); filaments free.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary sessile to shortly stipitate, inserted on the tube of the hypanthium; ovules 4–8.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod woody, dehiscing elastically into two flattened valves; upper suture unwinged.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds compressed, ± obovate-elliptic, with thin testa and short funicle.
[FZ]

Uses

Use
Various species used for timber ( mbarika, mtondo, abogo, doka ), e.g., for heavy construction and flooring; also used for medicine and human food (leaves)
[LOWO]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Legumes of the World Online

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0