We have few details about this taxon; if you can provide any information, photos or reliable records, please contact one of the site authors. Email addresses are given on the home page.
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Synonyms:
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Phyllanthus guineensis Pax
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| Common names:
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Small-fruited potato bush (English)
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| Frequency:
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Local |
| Status:
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Native and introduced |
Description:
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Usually a much-branched scrambling shrub, rarely a small tree. Leaves obovate to elliptic-oblong, produced on short lateral branchlets, giving the impression of compound leaves. Flowers in clusters on short axillary branchlets, small, yellowish-green, sexes separate on the same plant, flowering before the new leaves. Female flowers solitary along very thin branchlets appearing as racemes. Fruit berry-like, 3-4 mm, red to purple-black when ripe. |
| Notes:
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FZ 9(4) implies that this is a native species in divisions E and S. However, in division C, it is well-naturalised in the Botanic Gardens and in the neighbouring grounds of St George's College, probably an escape originally from the Botanic Gardens. See Note 1 for further information. |
| Derivation of specific name:
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ovalifolius: with oval (elliptic) leaves |
| Habitat:
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In high rainfall woodland and forest |
| Altitude range: (metres) |
780 - 1950 m |
| Flowering time:
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Mainly Oct - Nov |
| Worldwide distribution:
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Tropical Africa and Yemen |
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Zimbabwe distribution:
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C,E,S |
| Growth form:
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CS |
| Endemic status:
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| Red data list status:
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| Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
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| Spot characters:
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Display spot characters for this species |
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Content last updated: |
Thursday 1 March 2007 |
| Literature:
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