Gymnosporia buxifolia (L.) Szyszyl.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Leopard Rock Game Reserve, Vumba

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Synonyms:	Maytenus heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) N. Robson subsp. heterophylla (pro parte)
Common names:	Common spike-thorn (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Variable shrub or small tree, usually with somewhat drooping branches, armed with long straight spines. Leaves usually clustered on very short dwarf spur-branchlets in the axils of the spines or occasionally on green spines, more or less narrowly obovate-oblanceolate, mostly 2.5-4.5 cm long, rarely longer, green and hairless on both surfaces but often paler beneath; margin finely an irregularly toothed, normally only in the upper half. Flowers whitish, in many-flowered heads among the leaf clusterson strongly and unpleasantly scented. Fruit a subspherical, 3-lobed capsule, c. 10 mm in diameter, greenish-yellow to greyish-brown and wrinkled when dry.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	buxifolia: with leaves like a Buxus sp.
Habitat:	In a wide range of habitats, often as a pioneer in disturbed places.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Mostly Feb - Jun
Worldwide distribution:	Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,C,E,S
Growth form:	ST
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Wednesday 13 June 2012
Literature:	Coates Palgrave K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 604. 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. 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. Robson, N.K.B. (1966). Celastraceae FZ 2(2) Pages 364 - 366. as Maytenus heterophylla subsp. heterophylla (in part) (Includes a picture). Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, S Africa Pages 336 - 338. (Includes a picture). Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 122 - 123. (Includes a picture).

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Other sources of information about Gymnosporia buxifolia:

Flora of Mozambique: Gymnosporia buxifolia
African Plant Database: Gymnosporia buxifolia
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Gymnosporia buxifolia
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Gymnosporia buxifolia
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Gymnosporia buxifolia
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Gymnosporia buxifolia
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Gymnosporia buxifolia
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Gymnosporia buxifolia
JSTOR Plant Science: Gymnosporia buxifolia
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Gymnosporia buxifolia
Tropicos: Gymnosporia buxifolia
West African Plants database: Gymnosporia buxifolia