Home | > | List of families | > | Euphorbiaceae | > | Macaranga | > | mellifera |
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | Mountain macaranga (English) Mountain poplar (English) |
Frequency: | Common in suitable habitats |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Small to medium-sized tree. Leaves spirally arranged, ovate to elliptic-ovate, 8 - 20 cm long, slightly leathery with 2 small crater-like glands at the base above (photo 4) and densely dotted with small golden glands below, 3-5-veined from the base, mostly hairless except for long hairs on the lower part of the midrib; margin more or less closely glandular-dentate; petiole up to 12 cm long, thickened near the base of the leaf. Flowers in branched axillary racemose inflorescences, greenish or creamy-yellow, unisexual, mostly on different trees. Fruit subspherical, c. 4 × 4 mm, pale yellowish-green with several darker green pointed fleshy warts. |
Notes: | For distinctions between this species and the similar M. capensis, see the species key on the genus page.M. mellifera may also be confused with Croton sylvaticus; see that species for the differences. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | In montane forest. It is one of the dominant pioneer species in secondary forest and at forest margins. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 1100 - 1900 m |
Flowering time: | Sep - Oct |
Worldwide distribution: | Only known from Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | E,S |
Growth form(s): | Tree. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Saturday 5 January 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 460. (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 252. 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 162 - 164. (Includes a picture). Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 37. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Pages 87 - 88. Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 73. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 92. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Euphorbiaceae | > | Macaranga | > | mellifera |