Colophospermum mopane is a small to medium-sized deciduous, spineless tree, often with a thin, V-shaped crown; it usually grows from 4 - 18 metres tall but exceptionally can reach 30 metres. The tree produces one or more straight boles that can be 50 - 100cm in diameter. When growing in drier areas, the plant is more shrub-like, with more branches.A useful multi-purpose tree, it is often harvested from the wild for its medicinal uses and also for a wide range of commodities. The tree is also used in soil stabilization projects and is occasionally used as a source of food. Mopane is an important tree as an ecological dominant and fodder plant for many animals, particularly elephant
