Myrsine africana L.

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Myrsine africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
John Meikle Forestry Estate, Stapleford

Myrsine africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
John Meikle Forestry Estate, Stapleford

Myrsine africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Chinaka, Juliasdale

Myrsine africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near World's View, Nyanga

Myrsine africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near World's View, Nyanga

Myrsine africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near World's View, Nyanga

Myrsine africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Ngomakurira, Chinhamora CL

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Synonyms:
Common names: Cape myrtle (English) Small myrsine (English)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Usually a small woody shrub, rarely a small tree. Bark reddish brown. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, elliptic to almost circular, normally less than 2 × 1 cm, leathery, hairless; brown translucent glands present in the lamina; margin entire or with small but distinct teeth in the upper half. Flowers small, pink with pink or red stamens longer than the petals. Fruit somewhat fleshy, c. 4 mm in diameter, pink when ripe.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: africana: African
Habitat: Along the margins of evergreen forest and in miombo woodland, often among rocks.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:Oct - May
Worldwide distribution: From Ethiopia and Sudan southwards through eastern Africa to Angola and the Cape province of South Africa also in the Azores, Socotra and across Asia to C China.
Malawi distribution: N,C,S
Growth form(s): Shrub over 2 m, shrub under 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 216. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 731. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 39.

Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 26.

Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Pages 867 - 868.

Coates Palgrave, M. (1989). Guide to the trees and shrubs of the Mukuvisi Woodlands ?publisher. Page 21.

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 22.

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 265.

Kupicha, F.K. (1983). Myrsinaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(1) Pages 201 - 203. (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 64.

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 81.

Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 500 - 501. (Includes a picture).

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 126.

Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 74.

Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 146 - 147. (Includes a picture).

White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of Malawi Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pages 405 - 408. (Includes a picture).

Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 96.

Other sources of information about Myrsine africana:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Myrsine africana
Flora of Zambia: Myrsine africana
Flora of Zimbabwe: Myrsine africana

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Myrsine africana
African Plant Database: Myrsine africana
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Myrsine africana
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Myrsine africana
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Myrsine africana
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Myrsine africana
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Myrsine africana
JSTOR Plant Science: Myrsine africana
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Myrsine africana
Plants of the World Online: Myrsine africana
Tropicos: Myrsine africana
Wikipedia: Myrsine africana


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Malawi: Species information: Myrsine africana.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=143550, retrieved 28 March 2024

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