Colophospermum mopane, commonly called mopane, mopani, butterfly tree, turpentine tree, or balsam tree, is a tree in the legume family (Fabaceae), that grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, 200 to 1,200 metres (660 to 3,940 ft) in elevation, in parts of Southern Africa. The tree only occurs in Africa and is the only species in genus Colophospermum. Its distinctive butterfly-shaped (bifoliate) leaf and thin kidney-shaped/nearly semi-circular seed pod make it easy to identify.

Though hard and dense and difficult to work with, it is valued timber in all sorts of construction due to its termite tolerance. Together with camel thorn and leadwood, one of the three regionally important firewood trees, due to the enduring heat, and these woods are also some of the preferred use culinarily for braai.

The mopane is found on low-lying ground from 200 metres (660 ft) (Mozambique) to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) (Zimbabwe).

Native to Southern Africa, its habitat is divided crudely into two regions: the "Angola region", i.e., Angolan mopane woodlands ecoregion, which includes Southern Angola and northwestern Namibia, and the "Zambezian region", i.e. the Zambezian and mopane woodlands ecoregion extending over the lowlands of the Zambezi River and its tributaries across the countries of Zambia, Southern Malawi, other parts of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini/Swaziland and northern South Africa.

While it prefers slightly acidic deep clay soil that are friable and permeable, it also grows in alkaline (high lime content) soils which are shallow and not well drained. It also grows in alluvial soils (soil deposited by rivers). Where it occurs, it is often the dominant tree species, frequently forming homogeneous stands.

Within the Zambezian region described above, the trees' height varying considerably, and larger, single-stemmed trees of 10 to 15 m (33 to 49 ft) are found in open savannah woodlands on the (sandy) alluvial soil, forming canopy woodlands, and even reaching 18m in height for the so-called "cathedral mopane" of Zambia. The same tree is also found stunted as (multi-stemmed) shrubbery about 1 to 2 or 3 m (3.3 to 6.6 or 9.8 ft) in clayey soil or impermeable alkaline soil. Thus water or drainage seems to be a cause factor for stunting, though other causes have been hypothesized. These stunted growths are sometimes called "mopane scrub" (for shrub). The shrubs will not transition into tall woods.

This tree will not grow well outside hot, mostly frost-free areas with low to moderate rainfall (as low as 100mm per year, or averaging 400–500mm per year).

Mopane wood is one of southern Africa's heaviest, with an average density range of 0.990 to 1.230 g/cm³ (61.8 to 76.8 lb/cu ft) at 12% moisture. and is difficult to work because of its hardness. However it is also termite resistant making it one of the most preferred local timbers for construction, and for this reason it has long been used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and as pit props. The termite-resistance and rich, reddish colouring also make it popular for parquet flooring. Outside Africa, mopane is gaining popularity as a heavy, decorative wood, its uses including aquarium bogwood ornaments, similarly as driftwood decor for terrariums or gardens, or bases for lamps or sculptures.