Home | > | List of families | > | Arecaceae | > | Hyphaene | > | coriacea |
Synonyms: |
Hyphaene crinita auct. Hyphaene natalensis Kunze Hyphaene ovata Furtado |
Common names: | Murara (Shona) Muzira (Shona) Real fan palm (English) Southern ilala palm (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Palm tree. Stems erect or somewhat reclining, often suckering to form clumps. Leaves crowded on top of the stem, fan-shaped, up to 2.5 m including the petiole. Petiole armed with recurved thorns. Male and female flowers on different trees; male flowers in short spikes; female flowers in large sprays, which develop into branched trusses of fruits. Fruits distinctly pear-shaped up to 6 cm long. This species is very similar to the closely related H. petersiana and there is some debate about the exact taxonomic status of the two. H. petersiana differs mainly in the fruit being spherical. The trees of that species appear to be non-suckering and generally taller, although in areas where the trees experience little damage from elephants or man tall erect specimens of H. coriacea are not uncommon. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | coriacea: leathery |
Habitat: | Occurring near pans and floodplains but also away from rivers. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | Nov - Feb |
Worldwide distribution: | From Somalia to northern South Africa. Generally more easterly than H. petersiana. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | 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 9 June 2010 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 52. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 99. 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 120. Dransfield, J. (2010). Arecaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(2) Pages 58 - 60. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 232. As Hyphaene natalensis 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 85. as Hyphaene petersiana pro parte Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 114. 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 24. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Arecaceae | > | Hyphaene | > | coriacea |