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Synonyms: |
Capparis kirkii Oliv. |
Common names: | Large-flowered bush-cherry (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Evergreen shrub or small tree up to c. 5 m tall. Often conspicuous during the dry season, when most other shrubs and trees are leafless and dry. Leaves simple, oblong-obovate or oblanceolate, 4-12 cm long, thickly leathery, shiny green above, dull green below, somewhat rough on both surfaces; netveining conspicuous; apex with a hair-like tip; margin entire. Flowers in dense terminal clusters; sepals green, pubescent on both sides; petals present, very small, creamy-whitish; stamens c. 60, up to 3 cm long. Fruit round, up to 1.7 cm in diameter, shiny red when ripe, usually pendulous on stalks up to 2.5 cm long. |
Type location: |
Syntypes from Malawi |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | kirkii: named after Dr John Kirk, who accompanied David Livingstone on his Zambezi expedition of 1858 |
Habitat: | |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | Aug - Oct |
Worldwide distribution: | Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe. |
National distribution: | S |
Growth form(s): | Tree, shrub over 2 m. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Saturday 13 July 2019 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 161. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 234. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 238. 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 32. Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 168 - 169. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1960). Capparaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Pages 226 - 227. |
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