Mopani Wooden Clock from Zimbabwe .i. - mwc i - Sekesayi

Wooden clock - exotic Mopani

hardwood from Zimbabwe.

Free standing - approx. 6" square.

THE ELEPHANT,THE EMPEROR AND

THE BUTTERFLY TREE

The butterfly-shaped leaf of the Mopani tree, when crushed, gives out an odor like that of turpentine – a warning that its foliage is unpalatable . Yet there are many whose survival is dependent on the Mopani, the very appearance of new shoots and buds a portent of things to come.

If you’re curious about how a mopani worm tastes, travel to Botswana, alongside the Limpopo, where the lives and fortunes of families are intertwined with that of this remarkable tree. The incredible relationship between different species, all struggling to survive, and how each organism’s actions impact the lives of others, is very clearly highlighted in the interactions of the elephant, emperor moth and the mopani tree.

Encounter resin bees, body-guard mopani ants and their livestock scale insects, the devil’s child (chameleon), wise old giraffes and many other fascinating denizens that the Mopani tree supports.

See the film, "The Elephant the Emperor and the Butterfly Tree" which was the winner of the ‘Golden Panda Award’ and the ‘Soundtrack’ award, Wildscreen, 2004.

Unique Gifts from Africa

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