Kalahari red fingers

Kalahari red-fingers (Xylopia odoratissima): This deciduous shrub can grow as a slender tree which grows up to 9m high. It is also called the savanna bitter-wood. A feature is the branches grow almost horizontally from the main stem. The distribution range is restricted to the far north-east of the country in Andara near the Kavango River, Bwabwata NP and Rundu.

Bark is dark grey to grey-brown on the trunk and the branches reddish-brown. The leaves are pale green above and dull green to dark yellow flowers are sweet-scented and bloom in March. Fruits grow in clusters of between 1 and 8 and turn red when ripe. The seeds are an orange-brown colour.