Xanthocercis zambesiaca (Mashatu tree or Nyala tree) is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family. It is found in Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Nyala trees grow along rivers or termite mounds where they have access to lots of moisture and fertile soil. They are prolific in the Tuli Block of Botswana along the Limpopo and Shashe rivers where they are known as Mashatu trees. The nyala tree is a phreatophyte - it indicates the presence of ground water. The wood of a nyala tree can be worked, finishing with a smooth appearance, but irritates the nose and throat in the process.