Home | > | List of families | > | Celastraceae | > | Elaeodendron | > | matabelicum |
Synonyms: |
Cassine matabelica (Loes.) Steedman |
Common names: | Condiment saffron (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Tree 2–12 m high; branches 4-lined and wine-red when young, becoming terete with prominent whitish lenticels and eventually greyish. Leaves yellowish-green to dark green above, greyish-green beneath, oblong to elliptic or lanceolate, 3·5–13 cm long, leathery, yellowish venation more prominent above than beneath; margin obtusely glandular-denticulate or more rarely dentate or subentire; petiole 5–18 mm long. Inflorescences in subglobose, many-flowered axillary clusters; peduncle 3–25 mm. long. Flowers c. 4 mm in diameter, bisexual; Sepals 5, semicircular, c. 0.3 mm long, entire; petals 5, green to yellow, oblong or elliptic-oblong, 1–1·5 mm long; margin paler, entire. Stamens 5. Fruit a yellow or greenish-yellow drupe, drying dark red, subglobose to ellipsoid or obovoid, 13–18 mm long, smooth. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | matabelicum: of Matabeleland, in Zimbabwe where the type collection was made. |
Habitat: | In dry open deciduous woodland and wooded grassland. |
Altitude range: | 425 - 1525 m |
Flowering time: | Aug - Dec |
Worldwide distribution: | Angola through Zambia and Malawi to Mozambique south to Zimbabwe and Botswana |
Malawi distribution: | C,S |
Growth form(s): | Tree. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Tuesday 27 September 2022 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 500. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 23. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 14. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Pages 619 - 620. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 42. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 255. As Cassine matabelica 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 33. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 39. Robson, N.K.B. (1966). Celastraceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(2) Pages 385 - 389. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 45. Setshogo, M.P. & Venter, F. (2003). Trees of Botswana: names and distribution SABONET Report No. 18 Southern African Botanical Diversity Network, Pretoria Page 42. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 41. as Cassine matabelicum (Includes a picture). |
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