Wooden clock - exotic Mopani hardwood from Zimbabwe. Free standing,12" long and 6" high at the extremities.

The Mopane tree, Colophospermum mopane, is characteristic of dryer areas with clay soils over much of Botswana, Zimbabwe and the Northern Province and lowveld of South Africa. It is a fairly large tree, reaching up to 18 metres in height and usually occurs in forests as the exclusive tree species. The leaves are in the shape of green butterflies and in the summer months attract hundreds of brightly coloured caterpillars known as Mopane Worms. These are gathered in large quantities, grilled and savoured by some of the local people. The leaves of the Mopane are eaten by browsers such as Elephant, Kudu and Giraffe. In areas of poor soil quality, trees may form thickets of scrub. Mopane wood is very hard and and it has been used extensively in mining, construction and farming throughout Africa.