Home | > | List of families | > | Capparaceae | > | Boscia | > | mossambicensis |
Synonyms: |
Boscia welwitschii Gilg |
Common names: | Broad-leaved shepherds tree (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Much-branched shrub or small tree. Bark greyish-brown, rough and flaking; young branchlets yellowish, hairless. Leaves alternate or clustered, obovate, relatively large, up to 8 × 3.5 cm, leathery, slightly hairy when young, soon becoming hairless; apex rounded with a small, sharp point. Flowers in short, dense heads on short axillary branches. Sepals greenish-white; petals absent; stamens c. 15-40, c. 1 cm long. Fruit round, c. 2 cm in diameter, hairless, yellow to reddish when ripe. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | mossambicensis: of Mozambique |
Habitat: | Occurring in hot and dry woodland. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1200 m |
Flowering time: | Apr - Jun |
Worldwide distribution: | Botswana, DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Kruger NP, South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | Tree. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Monday 5 January 2015 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 148. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 228. Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Page 99. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 238. 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 32. Roodt, V. (1998). Trees and Shrubs of the Okavango Delta Shell Field Guide Series: Part I Shell Oil Botswana, Gaberone. Pages 32 - 33. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 44. Wild, H. (1960). Capparaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Page 230. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Capparaceae | > | Boscia | > | mossambicensis |