| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | Bristly sourberry (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Shrub or small tree. Bark greyish, branches with scattered pale lenticels, armed with slender, axillary spines, up to 4 cm, the stem often spiny near the base. Leaves obovate to broadly elliptic, small, usually c. 2 cm, dull green with bristly hairs on both surfaces and around the margin; translucent gland-dots visible when held against the light; margins entire or scalloped. Flowers small, greenish, stamens numerous. Fruit subspherical, fleshy, 1-2 cm in diameter, bristly, cupped by the small calyx lobes; bright red when ripe, edible. |
| Type location: |
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| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | hispidula: minutely hispid, with rough, bristly hairs |
| Habitat: | In open hot and dry mixed woodland. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 500 m |
| Flowering time: | Oct - Nov |
| Worldwide distribution: | Zimbabwe, Mozambique |
| FZ divisions: | E,S |
| Growth form(s): | Tree, shrub over 2 m. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Monday 12 March 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 639. (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. 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 53. Under Flacourtiaceae Wild, H. (1960). Flacourtiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Pages 284 - 285. |