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Synonyms: |
Balsamodendron schimperi O. Berg Commiphora betschuanica Engl. |
Common names: | Glossy-leaved corkwood (English) Mukwendekwende (Shona) Munyera (Shona) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Shrub or small tree. Bark dark green to yellowish-green flaking in large golden-brown to yellowish strips; branches spine-tipped. Leaves clustered on small lateral branchlets, 3-foliolate or rarely imparipinnate with 2-4 pairs leaflets; leaflets obovate, up to 5 × 3.5 cm, lateral leaflets about half the size of terminal leaflet, more or less shiny green, hairless; margin coarsely toothed; petiole slender, up to 3 cm long. Flowers in small axillary sessile clusters, red, cup-shaped, appearing before the leaves. Fruit ovoid, c. 1.3 cm long, pointed, pale pink, splitting to reveal a black seed almost entirely hidden by a 4-lobed bright red pseudo-aril. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | schimperi: named for George Wilhelm Schimper (1804-1878) who spent more than 40 years in Ethiopia where the type specimen comes from. |
Habitat: | In hot and dry woodland and scrub often on sandy soils. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | Aug - Oct |
Worldwide distribution: | Namibia, Zimbabwe and northern 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: | Friday 4 April 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 375. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 249. 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 31. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 42. Wild, H. (1963). Burseraceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 277 - 279. (Includes a picture). |
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