Home | > | List of families | > | Salvadoraceae | > | Azima | > | tetracantha |
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | Needle bush (English) |
Frequency: | Local |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Spiny scrambling shrub. Spines often in whorls of 4; branches 4-angled. Leaves elliptic to oblong, leathery, sharp-tipped at the apex. Flowers in axillary catkin-like inflorescences, greenish, sometimes flushed pink; sexes separate on different trees. Fruit thinly fleshy subspherical with a pointed tip, yellowish to white when ripe. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | tetracantha: with 4 spines. |
Habitat: | In hot, dry riverine scrub, particularly on alluvial or saline soils. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1200 m |
Flowering time: | Sep - Mar |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread from Somalia, through East and Central Africa to Namibia and South Africa. Also in Madagascar, Aldabara, Comoro islands and from Arabia to India and Sri Lanka and the Philippines. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | E,S |
Growth form(s): | Shrub over 2 m. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 773. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 8. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 921. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 107. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 267. 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 75. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 95. Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 536 - 537. (Includes a picture). Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 29. Vickery, A.R. (1983). Salvadoraceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(1) Pages 375 - 376. (Includes a picture). |
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