Balanites glabra
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| Balanites glabra | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Zygophyllales |
| Family: | Zygophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Balanites |
| Species: | B. glabra |
| Binomial name | |
| Balanites glabra Mildbr. & Schltr.[1] | |
Balanites glabra is a species of tree or shrub, classified either as a member of the Zygophyllaceae or the Balanitaceae.[2] This tree is native to East Africa.
Balanites glabra is a spiny shrub or tree growing to a maximum height of 9m. The bark is grey or greyish green and is rough, cork-like and fissured on the trunk but greener and smoother on the branches, the spines and young shoots are green and glabrous, becoming greyer and hairier by their second year. The leaves are teardrop shaped with the stalk attached to the tapering end (i.e. obovate.) Flower's are borne in clusters of 4, sometimes 5, on a pedicel and are yellowish green to white. The young fruit is round but becomes more ellipsoid as it ripens when it changes colour to yellow, orange or pale red.[3] The fruit is mildly poisonous to humans and may cause fever, diarrhoea and stomach ache.[4]