Ptaeroxylon obliquum (Thunb.) Radlk.

Images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record

Photo: Bart Wursten
Maleme Dam camp

Records and maps: Display species records Map species by: altitude rainfall geology Map species using Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Ptaeroxylon utile Eckl. & Zeyh. Rhus obliqua Thunb.
Common names:	Sneezewood (English) Umbengahonye (Ndebele) Umnembu (Ndebele) Umpahla (Ndebele) Umpandula (Ndebele)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small to medium-sized deciduous tree. Bark whitish-grey, smooth when young, fissured in older specimens. Leaves opposite, crowded near the ends of branches, paripinnate with 3-7 pairs of leaflets, aromatic when crushed. Leaflets usually c. 2.5 × 1.3 cm, markedly asymmetric, blue-green to dark green, hairless; translucent gland-dots present; apex rounded or notched; margin entire. Flowers in axillary branched heads, white to creamy-yellow, unisexual on different trees, sweetly scented. Fruit a 2-winged capsule, notched at the base and apex, c. 2 × 1.5 cm, yellowish to reddish-brown with conspicuous veins, dehiscent into 2 valves, which remain on the tree for some time.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	obliquum: oblique, asymmetric, referring to the leaflets.
Habitat:	In open woodland and scrub, often in rocky terrain.
Altitude range: (metres)	Up to 1525 m
Flowering time:	Aug - Dec
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa as far as the Eastern Cape.
Zimbabwe distribution:	W,S
Growth form:
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):	Papilio demodocus demodocus (Citrus swallowtail)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Saturday 14 February 2009
Literature:

Comments

comments powered by Disqus

Other sources of information about Ptaeroxylon obliquum:

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