Manica Beechwood

rubriflora: with red flowers

Large tree up to 25 m tall. Bark grey to pale brown, shallowly to deeply fissured, depending on exposure to fires. Leaves oblanceolate-oblong, often drooping, 6.5-12.5cm long, leathery, glossy green, hairless; margin entire but wavy; petiole up to 2 cm long, pink to red. Inflorescence a sturdy spike, 15-25 cm long. Flowers wine red to bright crimsom, turning silvery hairy when fruiting.

Locally frequent

Restricted to the montane forests of the border mountains of Mozambique and Zimbabwe.