Colophospermum mopane, commonly called
mopane,
mopani,
balsam tree,
butterfly tree, or
turpentine tree, is a tree in the
legume family (
Fabaceae), that grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, in elevation, in the far northern parts of
southern Africa. The tree only occurs in Africa and is the only
species in
genus Colophospermum. Its distinctive
butterfly-shaped (bifoliate) leaf and thin
seed pod make it easy to identify. In terms of human use it is, together with
camel thorn and
leadwood, one of the three regionally important
firewood trees.