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Rinorea elliptica
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (7)
Photo: Alan Gardiner
Catapu Concession, Sofala.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes Mt Bunga, Gorongosa National Park.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes Mt Bunga, Gorongosa National Park.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes Mt Bunga, Gorongosa National Park.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes Mt Bunga, Gorongosa National Park.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower slopes Mt Bunga, Gorongosa National Park.
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Alsodeia elliptica Oliv. |
| Common names: | Red-fruited violet-bush (English) |
| Frequency: | Very rare, fewer than 10 specimens known. |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Shrub or small tree. Leaves alternate, narrowly to broadly elliptic or ovate, 5-10 cm long, bright green, hairless, veining prominent on both surfaces, base rounded or somewhat cordate; margin finely dentate; petiole grooved along the top. Flowers axillary, in spike-like heads, white or salmon-pink, 1-1.5 cm in diameter, sweetly scented. petals often curved backwards. Fruit a small subspherical or 3-sided capsule with a sharp point, 6-7 mm long, red, hairless, splitting into 3 valves. |
| Notes: | In Zimbabwe it is only known from some forest along the Runde River in Gonarezhou NP. Its habitat is seriously threatened by erosion and elephant damage. |
| Derivation of specific name: | elliptica: elliptic, oblong with rounded ends |
| Habitat: | In the understorey of lowland forest. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 270 m (approx) |
| Flowering time: | Oct - Nov |
| Worldwide distribution: | Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe. |
| Zimbabwe distribution: | E,S |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | Critically Endangered |
| Insects associated with this species: | Acraea cuva cuva (Food plant) |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Saturday 15 December 2007 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 625. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 261. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 169. 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 83. Robson, N.K.B. (1960). Violaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Page 248. |
Other sources of information about Rinorea elliptica:
Our websites:
Flora of Malawi: Rinorea ellipticaFlora of Mozambique: Rinorea elliptica
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Rinorea ellipticaAfrican Plant Database: Rinorea elliptica
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Rinorea elliptica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Rinorea elliptica
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Rinorea elliptica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Rinorea elliptica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Rinorea elliptica
JSTOR Plant Science: Rinorea elliptica
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Rinorea elliptica
Plants of the World Online: Rinorea elliptica
Tropicos: Rinorea elliptica
Wikipedia: Rinorea elliptica
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