Pterocarpus angolensis is a medium to large tree with a spreading crown reaching heights to 16 m, occasionally 20 m (SA Tree List No. 236).
The erect, sturdy trunk is covered in dark grey bark with a rough texture. Scattered, pale patches of underbark can be seen along the surface where fissuring and flaking have occurred and reticulated pieces have peeled off.
In South Africa the tree is only found in the far north-east, in parts of the provinces of Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. In tropical Africa it is found widespread.
Transvaal teak grows in sandy soil on rocky slopes of woodland and bushveld where the climate is warm and the rainfall over 500 mm per annum. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.
This tall specimen with rounded crown was photographed in July on a granite slope near the Sabie River. Being deciduous, its midwinter garb is leaf discard, only scattered pods remaining, barely visible among the upper branches (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; http://redlist.sanbi.org).
Pterocarpus angulus ni mti wa ukubwa wa kati hadi mkubwa na taji la kuenea linalofikia urefu wa mita 16 na mara kwa mara mita 20. 236) ni nini? Mti huo ulio wima na wenye nguvu umefunikwa na magamba ya rangi ya kijivu-kijivu yenye umbo gumu. Sehemu za chini za magamba yaweza kuonekana kwenye uso ambapo vipande vilivyochongoka na kupasuka-pasuka vimeonekana na vipande vilivyochongoka vimeonekana. Katika Afrika Kusini mti huo unapatikana tu kaskazini mashariki, katika sehemu za mikoa ya Limpopo, Mpumalanga na KwaZulu-Natal. Katika Afrika ya kitropiki hupatikana kotekote. Transvaal teak hukua katika udongo wa mchanga kwenye mteremko wa miamba ya misitu na misitu ambapo hali ya hewa ni ya joto na mvua zaidi ya 500 mm kwa mwaka. Spishi hiyo haichukuliwi kuwa hatarini katika mazingira yake mapema katika karne ya ishirini na moja. Mfano huu mrefu wenye taji lenye umbo la mviringo ulipigwa picha mwezi Julai kwenye mteremko wa graniti karibu na Mto Sabie. Kwa kuwa ni mimea ya majani, mavazi yake ya katikati ya majira ya baridi ni majani yaliyotupwa, na ni vichaka vilivyotupwa tu vinavyobaki, vinavyoonekana tu kati ya matawi ya juu (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk na Van Wyk, 1997; http: www.redlist.sanbi.org).