Home | > | List of families | > | Phyllanthaceae | > | Phyllanthus | > | ovalifolius |
Synonyms: |
Phyllanthus guineensis Pax |
Common names: | Small-fruited potato bush (English) |
Frequency: | Local |
Status: | Native and introduced |
Description: |
Usually a much-branched scrambling shrub, rarely a small tree. Leaves obovate to elliptic-oblong, produced on short lateral branchlets, giving the impression of compound leaves. Flowers in clusters on short axillary branchlets, small, yellowish-green, sexes separate on the same plant, flowering before the new leaves. Female flowers solitary along very thin branchlets appearing as racemes. Fruit berry-like, 3-4 mm, red to purple-black when ripe. |
Notes: | FZ 9(4) implies that this is a native species in divisions E and S. However, in division C, it is well-naturalised in the Botanic Gardens and in the neighbouring grounds of St George's College, probably an escape originally from the Botanic Gardens. See Note 1 for further information. |
Derivation of specific name: | ovalifolius: with oval (elliptic) leaves |
Habitat: | In high rainfall woodland and forest |
Altitude range: (metres) | 780 - 1950 m |
Flowering time: | Mainly Oct - Nov |
Worldwide distribution: | Tropical Africa and Yemen |
Zimbabwe distribution: | 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: | Wednesday 8 February 2017 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 417. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 44. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 24. As Phyllanthus guineensis Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 251. As Phyllanthus guineensis 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 42. Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 42 - 43. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Pages 88 - 89. |
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