Home | > | List of families | > | Balanitaceae | > | Balanites | > | maughamii |
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | Green-thorn (English) Y-thorned torchwood (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Medium-sized to tall deciduous tree, large specimens often with a fluted trunk. Branches distinctly zig-zagging, armed with green forked spines. Leaves 2-foliolate; leaflets asymmetrical ovate to almost round, dark grey-green, leathery, velvety when young; margin entire. Flowers in axillary clusters on mostly unarmed branches, c. 2 cm in diameter, yellowish-green; petals densely hairy on the outside. Fruit date-like, grooved along the length, yellowish when ripe, edible and rich in oil. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | maughamii: named after a Mr Maugham who collected the type in southern Mozambique. |
Habitat: | A species of dry open woodland, riverine fringes, sand forest and around springs and edges of pans. |
Altitude range: | |
Flowering time: | Sep - Oct |
Worldwide distribution: | From Tanzania to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. |
Malawi distribution: | S |
Growth form(s): | Tree. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 347. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 8. As Balanites maughamii maughamii Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Page 256. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 248. Launert, E. (1963). Balanitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 221 - 223. (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 29. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 39. Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 24. |
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