Balanites aegyptiaca

B. aegyptiaca is a multi-branched, spiny shrub or tree up to l0 m high. Stem with a reticulate dark brown or grey (rarely green) bark;branches green or greyish, stiff and brittle, always armed with stout simple green or yellowish spines. Leaves petiolate;leaflets shortly petiolulate;lamina 2.5Ð6 ? 1.5Ð4 cm., slightly asymmetric, elliptic to elliptic-obovate, apex subacute to obtuse, sometimes slightly refuse, base cuneate or rarely rounded, coriaceous, puberulous when young, later glabrescent or sometimes remaining puberulous on the lower surface;secondary nerves 4Ð6 pairs, ± prominent beneath;petiole (0.5) 0.8Ð2 cm. long, puberulous or glabrescent, canaliculate. Flowers in usually few-flowered sessile or shortly pedunculate fascicles;pedicels up to 1á5 cm. long, ± densely greyish-pubescent. Flowers c. 1á4 cm. in diam. Sepals 5.2Ð7 ? 2.7Ð3á25 mm., ovate or ovate-lanceolate, coriaceous, caducous, densely pubescent outside, with long silky whitish hairs inside. Petals 7.2Ð9.5 ? 2Ð2.4 (2.8) mm., narrowly elliptic or elliptic-oblong, rarely lanceolate-oblong, glabrous on both surfaces. Stamens with the anthers 1.7Ð2.2 mm. long, ovate or ovate-oblong, glabrous;filaments c. 3.75 mm. long. Ovary densely covered with long silky hairs. Drupe yellowish or green, up to 5 ? 2.5 cm., usually subcylindric, more rarely narrowly ellipsoid or subobclavate, finely puberulous, sometimes glabrescent (Flora Zambesiaca, 2016).