Mopani

Mopani, or mopane, refers to the Colophospermum mopane tree and the woodland ecosystem it forms in southern Africa, as well as to the edible larvae of the emperor moth that feed on its leaves. The tree is native to parts of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, typically in hot, low-lying savannas in areas with seasonal rainfall. Mopane woodlands are characterized by widely spaced trees with distinctive butterfly-shaped leaves that often fold in hot weather. Mopane trees are adapted to drought and poor soils and can tolerate seasonal flooding.

The wood of Colophospermum mopane is dense and heavy, used locally for fuel, charcoal, fencing, and rough construction; the timber is prized for its hardness and durability. The species supports a range of wildlife, notably elephants and a variety of birds, insects, and other plants. A key ecological relationship is with the mopane worm (Gonimbrasia belina), the caterpillar stage of a moth that feeds on mopane leaves; in many rural areas the larvae are harvested, dried or fried, and sold or eaten as a protein-rich food source.

Mopani is also the name of the Mopani District Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa, an administrative region named after the mopane trees that grow in the area.