Synonyms: |
Boscia welwitschii Gilg |
Common names: | Broad-leaved shepherds tree (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Much-branched shrub or small tree. Bark greyish-brown, rough and flaking; young branchlets yellowish, hairless. Leaves alternate or clustered, obovate, relatively large, up to 8 × 3.5 cm, leathery, slightly hairy when young, soon becoming hairless; apex rounded with a small, sharp point. Flowers in short, dense heads on short axillary branches. Sepals greenish-white; petals absent; stamens c. 15-40, c. 1 cm long. Fruit round, c. 2 cm in diameter, hairless, yellow to reddish when ripe. |
Type location: |
Mozambique, Tete, Boror |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | mossambicensis: of Mozambique |
Habitat: | Occurring in hot and dry woodland. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | Apr - Jun |
Worldwide distribution: | Botswana, DRC, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Kruger NP, South Africa. |
FZ divisions: | N |
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: | Monday 5 January 2015 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 148. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 228. Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Page 99. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 238. 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 32. Meerts, P. & Hasson, M. (2016). Arbres et arbustes du Haut-Katanga Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Page 153. (Includes a picture). Roodt, V. (1998). Trees and Shrubs of the Okavango Delta Shell Field Guide Series: Part I Shell Oil Botswana, Gaberone. Pages 32 - 33. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 44. Wild, H. (1960). Capparaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Page 230. |