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Synonyms: |
Turraea oblancifolia Bremek. Turraea obtusifolia Hochst. var. matopensis Baker f. |
Common names: | Lesser honeysuckle tree (English) Small honeysuckle-tree (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Deciduous shrub or occasionally a small tree. Branches with rusty-brown lenticels young shoots very finely hairy. Leaves alternate or often clustered on dwarf spur branchlets, to 5 × 2.5 cm but usually only 3-3.5 cm long, very variable in shape, elliptic to oblanceolate, often with the apical part more or less 3-lobed or triangular, glossy green, hairless; margin entire. Flowers in 1-3 flowered axillary clusters, large, white; petals narrow, up to 3.5 cm long; staminal tube 2.5-3.5 cm long. Fruit a distinct 5-lobed woody capsule, c. 2.5 cm in diameter, splitting into 5 crimson red valves. Fruits and flowers may occur on the tree together. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | obtusifolia: with obtuse leaves |
Habitat: | On rocky hillsides and kopjes in our area but in dune vegetation elsewhere. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1400 m |
Flowering time: | Dec - Feb |
Worldwide distribution: | Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa as far as the Eastern Cape. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | W,E,S |
Growth form(s): | Shrub over 2 m, shrub under 2 m. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Pseudaphelia apollinaris (Food plant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Wednesday 8 April 2015 |
Literature: |
Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 97. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 387. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 36. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 450. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 250. Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 212 - 213. (Includes a picture). 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 62. Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 258 - 259. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 86. Setshogo, M.P. & Venter, F. (2003). Trees of Botswana: names and distribution SABONET Report No. 18 Southern African Botanical Diversity Network, Pretoria Page 103. Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. (1988). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region Struik, Cape Town Pages 74 - 75. (Includes a picture). White, F. & Styles, B.T. (1963). Meliaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 313 - 314. White, F., Styles, B.T. & Gonçalves, A.E. (1979). 42 Meliaceae Flora de Moçambique Junta de Investigaçoes Cientificas do Ultramar Pages 12 - 14. (Includes a picture). |
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