Home | > | List of families | > | Capparaceae | > | Maerua | > | parvifolia |
Synonyms: |
Maerua hirticaulis Gilg & Gilg-Ben. Maerua legatii Burtt Davy |
Common names: | Dwarf bush-cherry (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Small woody shrub up to 2 m tall with stiff rigid branches. Leaves clustered on dwarf side shoots or occasionally also alternate, simple, obovate, up to 2 cm long, grey-green, leathery, hairy; margin entire. Flowers solitary or in pairs on the side shoots. Sepals green; petals present but very small, white; stamens 15-25, c. 1.5 cm long. Fruit bean-like, pendulous, c. 5 cm long, somewhat constricted between the seeds. |
Notes: | See M. buxifolia for comparison. |
Derivation of specific name: | parvifolia: with small leaves. |
Habitat: | Occurring in hot and dry woodland, often on termite mounds. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1200 m |
Flowering time: | Oct - Jan |
Worldwide distribution: | Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Mpumalanga, Limpopo, South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Saturday 13 July 2019 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 162. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 38. 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. 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) Pages 223 - 225. (Includes a picture). |
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