Compilation
Mystroxylon sphaerophyllum

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Name

Identification
Mystroxylon aethiopicum (Thunb.) Loes. [family CELASTRACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by R.A. Archer, 1993 Mystroxylon sphaerophyllum Eckl. & Zeyh. [family CELASTRACEAE ] Verified by Not on Sheet,
Related name
  • Mystroxylon kubu
  • Mystroxylon confertiflorum
  • Mystroxylon aethiopicum
  • Mystroxylon pubescens
  • Mystroxylon sphaerophyllum
  • Rhamnus not on sheet

Flora

Entry for Mystroxylon aethiopicum Thunb. Loes. [family CELASTRACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 2, Part 2, page 355, (1966) Author: N. K. Robson
Names
Mystroxylon aethiopicum Thunb. Loes. [family CELASTRACEAE], in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., Nachtr. 1: 223 (1897); op. cit., ed. 2, 20b: 178 (1942). — R. E. Fr., Schwed. Rhod.-Kongo-Exped. 1: 128 (1914). — Burtt Davy & Hoyle, N.C.L.: 38 (1936). — Perrier, Fl. Madag., Celastrac.: 36 (1946). — Brenan, T.T.C.L.: 129 (1949); in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 8, 3: 238 (1953). — Exell & Mendonça, C.F.A. 2, 1: 10 (1954). TAB. 78. Type from S. Africa (Cape Prov.).
Cassine aethiopica Thunb. [family CELASTRACEAE], Fl. Cap. 2: 227 (1818). — Loes. in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3, 5: 215 (1893). — Davison in Bothalia, 2: 330 (1927). — Steedman, Trees etc. S. Rhod.: 41 (1936). — Wilczek, F.C.B. 9: 130 (1960). — White, F.F.N.R.: 216 (1962). Type as above.
Mystroxylon sphaerophyllum Eckl. & Zeyh. [family CELASTRACEAE], Enum. Pl. Afr. Austr. Extratrop. 1: 126 (1834–35?). — Sond. in Harv. & Sond., F.C. 1: 470 (1860). Type from S. Africa (Cape Prov.).
Elaeodendron sphaerophyllum Eckl. & Zeyh. Presl [family CELASTRACEAE], Bot. Bemerk.: 34 (1844). — Sim, loc. cit. Type as for Mystroxylon sphaerophyllum.
Mystroxylon confertiflorum Tul. [family CELASTRACEAE], in Ann. Sci. Nat., Sér. 4, Bot., 8: 106 (1857). — Sond., tom. cit.: 469 (1860). — R. E. Fr., tom. cit.: 129 (1914). — Loes., op. cit. ed. 2, 20b: 178 (1942). Syntypes from Madagascar and the Comoro Is.
Mystroxylon burkeanum Sond. [family CELASTRACEAE], tom. cit.: 470 (1860). Syntypes from the Transvaal.
Elaeodendron velutinum Harv. [family CELASTRACEAE], Thes. Cap. 2: 55, t. 186 (1863). — Burtt Davy & Hoyle, op. cit.: 37 (1936). Type from Natal.
Elaeodendron aethiopicum Thunb. Oliv. [family CELASTRACEAE], F.T.A. 1: 361 (1868). — Sim, For. Fl, Port. E. Afr.: 36 (1909). Type as for Cassine aethiopica.
Elaeodendron aethiopicum var. pubescens Oliv. [family CELASTRACEAE], loc. cit. Syntypes from Angola (Huila).
Cassine burkeana Sond. Kuntze [family CELASTRACEAE], Rev. Gen. Pl. 1: 114 (1891). — Davison, tom. cit.: 329 (1927). — Burtt Davy, F.P.F.T. 2: 450 (1932). — Hutch., Botanist in S. Afr.; 668 (1946). Type as for Mystroxylon burkeanum.
Mystroxylon aethiopicum var. burkeanum Sond. Loes. [family CELASTRACEAE], in Engl., Bot. Jahrb. 17: 552 (1893). — R. E. Fr., tom. cit.: 128 (1914). Type as for Mystroxylon burkeanum.
Mystroxylon schlechteri Loes. [family CELASTRACEAE], in Engl., Bot. Jahrb. 28: 159 (1900); in Engl. & Prantl, op. cit. ed. 2, 20b: 178 (1942). Type: Mozambique, Ressano Garcia, Schlechter 11944 (B†, holotype; BM; COI; K).
Cassine schlechteri Loes. Davison [family CELASTRACEAE], tom. cit.: 329 (1927). — Burtt Davy, loc. cit. — Hutch., loc. cit. Type as for Mystroxylon schlechteri,
Mystroxylon nyasicum Dunkley [family CELASTRACEAE], in Burtt Davy & Hoyle, loc. cit., nom. nud.
Mystroxylon aethiopicum var. pubescens Oliv. Brenan. [family CELASTRACEAE], T.T.C.L.: 129 (1949); in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 8, 3: 238 (1953). Syntypes as for Elaeodendron aethiopicum var. pubescens,
Information
Shrub or tree (1)2–12(18) m. high; branches flattened (or very rarely somewhat angular) and yellowish-velutinous to sparsely puberulous or rarely glabrous when young, becoming terete and glabrous. Leaves with lamina dark green often glossy and sometimes glaucous above, paler and dull below, 1·6–12(15) × 0·8–5·6(8) cm., ovate to lanceolate or oblong or more rarely elliptic to subcircular, obtuse or very rarely acute to rounded or retuse at the apex, with margin entire or undulate-crenulate to glandular-denticulate, cuneate to shallowly cordate at the base, coriaceous, glabrous or with nerves shortly yellowish-pubescent above, glabrous or ± densely yellowish-pubescent to -velutinous below, with veins varying in prominence; petiole 1–8 mm. long, glabrous to velutinous. Cymes with peduncle up to 14(20) mm. long or rarely absent, glabrous or pubescent, varying in thickness; pedicels up to 15 mm. long; flowers 1-c. 20 in each cyme, 3–6 mm. in diam. Sepals 0·5–1 mm. long, broadly ovate to semicircular, pubescent or puberulous or very rarely glabrous. Petals green to yellow, 1–2·5 mm. long, sub-circular and sessile or broadly unguiculate with short lamina, glabrous. Stamens with anther-connective often reddish when dry. Ovary broadly ovoid to semi-globose, (2)3-locular. Drupe bright red to purplish-red, 8–20 mm., globose to ovoid, often apiculate, smooth or finely rugose, ± fleshy, glabrous or glaucous to puberulous.
Habitat
Submontane evergreen forest, fringing forest, Brachystegia woodland, coastal woodland or savanna woodland
Range
From Ethiopia and Sudan Republic southwards to the Cape and west to SW. Africa and Angola
Altitude range
0–2100 m. in our area.
2100
0
Distribution
Mozambique M Maputo, between Quinta da Pedra and Santaca, fl. 1.ix.1948, Gomes e Sousa 3810 (COI; K; LISC; PRE; SRGH).Mozambique GI 20 km. E. of Inhambane, fr. iii.1936. Gomes e Sousa 1696 (COI; K).Mozambique MS Cheringoma, near Serração de Sarane, fr. 29.iv.1948, Torre 4033 (LISC).Mozambique T Angónia, near Vila Mouzinho, fl. & fr. 15.x.1943, Torre 6033 (LISC).Mozambique Z Milange to Molumbo, km. 55, fl. 13.ix.1949, Barbosa & Carvalho in Barbosa 4060 (K; LMJ; SRGH).Malawi S Mlanje Mt., Lukulezi valley, fl. 21.xi.1957, Chapman 491 (BM; FHO; K; PRE).Malawi C Kota-Kota Distr., Chia area, 480 m., fl. 3.ix.1946, Brass 17516 (BM; K; PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe S Fort Victoria, Glenlivet, 1200 m., fl. 7.iv.1947, Acheson 14 (FHO; K; SRGH).Zimbabwe E Umtali, N. of Rowa township, 1000 m., fl. 7.xii.1952, Chase 4751 (BM; COI; K; LISC; SRGH).Zimbabwe C Umvuma, Sebakwe R., fl. 23.iii.1947, Mackintosh 3/47 (FHO; SRGH).Zimbabwe W Bubi Distr., Bakumbusi, c. 80 km. N. of Bulawayo, fl. & fr. 4.vi.1947, Keay A40/47 (K).Zambia S Siamambo Forest Reserve, 16 km. SE. of Choma, fl. 8.ix.1957, Angus 1695 (FHO; K).Zambia E Gt. E. Road, Nsadzu R. bridge, 900 m., fr. 27.xi.1958, Robson 744 (BM; K; LISC; PRE; SRGH).Zambia C Serenje Distr., Kanona Rest House, fr. 30.xi.1952, White 3807 (FHO; K).Zambia W Solwezi Distr., Mbulungu stream near Mutanda Bridge, fr. 28.vi.1930, Milne-Redhead 620 (K; PRE).Zambia N Muchinga Escarpment, 48 km. N. of Mpika, 2100 m., fl. & fr. 29.xi.1952, White 3790 (BM; FHO; K).Mozambique N Mutuali, 10 km. from Malema, fl. 2.x.1953, Gomes e Sousa 4138 (COI; K; PRE).Malawi N Nyika Plateau, Rufiri Stream, 56 km. SE. of Rest House, 2400 m., fl. 28.x.1958, Robson 437 (BM; K; LISC; PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe N Urungwe Reserve, Magunge, Mlelchi R., fr. 19.xii.1952, Lovemore 341 (K; SRGH).Zambia B Shangombo, Mashi R., 1020 m., fl. 8.viii.1952, Codd 7451 (BM; K; PRE).Botswana N Shakawe, banks of Okovango R., fl. 3.x.1954, Story 4802 (K; PRE; SRGH).
Distribution (external)
Guinée
Cameroun
Madagascar
Comoro Is.
Aldabra
Seychelles
Notes
Mystroxylon aethiopicum is treated here in a broad sense. It is a very variable species and many of its forms have been given specific names. All these forms, however, appear to be interconnected by intermediates, so that it does not seem possible at present to recognise more than one species. Forms represented in our area include a large-leaved forest one (Elaeodendron velutinum Harv.), a narrow-leaved subglabrous south-eastern one (M. schlechteri Loes.) and a small-leaved few-flowered south-western one (M. burkeanum Sond.).

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