About Mundulea sericea (Willd.) A.Chev.
Mundulea sericea (Willd.) A.Chev. has alternate compound leaves that are covered in silky hairs. Its papilionaceous flowers range in color from mauve to purple. The seed pods grow up to 8 centimeters long, are covered in golden brown velvety hairs that turn grey as they age, and may remain on the tree until the next flowering season or even longer. The bark of the stem and main branches is deeply grooved, corky in texture, and contains the poison rotenone, despite this, the leaves are browsed by animals. This species is common across Madagascar, southern to central Africa, India, and Sri Lanka. At its southern distribution limit, it occurs in northern KwaZulu-Natal and areas north of the Vaal River in South Africa. It prefers rocky slopes but can also grow in savanna. Two subspecies are currently recognized: Mundulea sericea subsp. madagascariensis Du Puy & Labat, with the synonym Mundulea striata, which is endemic to Madagascar, and Mundulea sericea subsp. sericea, which is found in mainland tropical Africa, India, and Sri Lanka.
