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Synonyms: |
Dictamnus capensis L.f. |
Common names: | Cape chestnut (English) Umbaba (Ndebele) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Small to large tree. Leaves simple, opposite, more or less broadly elliptic, up to 22 cm long, hairless when mature, translucent gland-dots present, aromatic when crushed, margin entire and wavy. Flowers in dense axillary heads, large and showy; petals narrowly oblanceolate, pale to deep pink, darker purple at the base; staminodes longer than the petals, dotted with crimson glands. Fruit a 5-lobed capsule up to 3.5 cm in diameter, covered in tubercles, yellow-green when young to brown and woody when ripe, dehiscing from the base, valves remaining connected to the stalk at the apex. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | capense: of the Cape |
Habitat: | In montane and riverine forest and densely wooded ravines. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | Oct - Mar |
Worldwide distribution: | Highlands of Ethiopia, south to Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa as far as the Western Cape. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | Tree. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Papilio demodocus demodocus (Food plant) Papilio nireus lyaeus (Larval foodplant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Saturday 29 March 2008 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 350. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 11. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. Coates Palgrave, K. et al. (1956). Trees of Central Africa National Publications Trust, Salisbury. Pages 396 - 398. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 248. 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 75. Mendonça, F. A. (1963). Rutaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 181 - 183. (Includes a picture). Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 28. |
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