Edit History
Ptaeroxylon obliquum Thunb. Radlk. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE]
Date Updated: 26 July 2007
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 2, Part 2, page 547, (1966) Author: F. White and B. T. Styles
Names
Ptaeroxylon obliquum Thunb. Radlk. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], in Sitz.-Ber. Bayer. Akad. 20: 165 (1890). — Gürke in Engl., Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C: 232 (1895). — Siebenlist, Forstwirtsch. in Deutsch-Ostafr: 98 (1914). — Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1: 800, t. 376 (1915). — Chalk & al. in Chalk & Burtt Davy, For. Trees Brit. Emp. 3: 56, t. 8, fig. 11 (1935). — Brenan, T.T.C.L.: 318 (1949). — Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Moçamb. 2: 114 (1949); Dendrol. Mozamb. 1: 197 cum photogr. et tab. (1951). — Exell & Mendonça, C.F.A. 1, 2: 306 (1951). — O.B. Mill. in Journ. S. Afr. Bot. 18: 39 (1952). TAB. 118. Type from S. Africa.
Rhus obliqua Thunb. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], Fl. Cap. 2: 224 (1818). — DC., Prod. 2: 68 (1825). Type as above.
Ptaeroxylon utile Eckl. & Zeyh. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], Enum. Pl. Afr. Austr. Extratrop. 1: 54 (1834–35?). — Harv., Thes. Cap. 1: 11, t. 17 (?1859). — Sond. in Harv. & Sond., F.C. 1: 243 (1860). — Sim, For. & For. Fl. Col. Cape Good Hope: 166, t. 31 (1907). Type from S. Africa (Cape Prov.).
Ptaeroxylon utile forma robustum Szyszyl. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], Polypet. Disc. Rehm.: 48 (1888) (“Pteroxylon”). Type from the Transvaal.
Information
Shrub or small to medium-sized tree up to 15 m. tall, usually deciduous; bole up to 0·3 m. in diam. at breast height, rarely more; bark whitish-grey and smooth at first, later darker with longitudinal fissures. Leaves densely puberulous when young, the hairs sometimes persisting on the petiole and rhachis and less densely so on the lamina; rhachis (+ petiole) up to 12 cm. long, flattened and slightly winged, usually ending in a short appendage; leaflets 3–7-jugate, subsessile, opposite, rarely subopposite, exceptionally alternate, leaflet-lamina up to 5 × 2·4 cm., usually much smaller, very asymmetric, apex obtuse, rounded or emarginate, rarely mucronate, base cuneate, secondary nerves rather close together, prominent on both surfaces. Inflorescence up to 5 cm. long, axillary or in the axils of fallen leaves. Flowers pale yellow, usually appearing before or with the new leaves. Calyx c. 1 mm. long, sparsely puberulous; lobes acute. Petals c. 5 × 1·5 mm., glabrous except for the ciliolate margin. Stamens c. 3·5 mm. long; staminodes c. 2 mm.; antherodes minute. Ovary c. 1·75 mm. long, style about 1·25 mm. long; pistillode minute, embedded in the disk, sometimes with two vestigial styles and loculi. Capsule chestnut-brown with conspicuous veins, c. 18 × 12 mm. Seed c. 16 × 6 mm.
Habitat
In our area recorded only from open woodland and scrub, especially in rocky places; elsewhere often a constituent of closed forest. Sometimes planted in gardens.
Altitude range
from near sea-level to 1525 m
1525
0
Distribution
Zimbabwe S Ndanga, Mutewa R., st. vii.1959,. Savory 501 (SRGH).Mozambique M Maputo, Santaca, fl. x.1948, Gomes e Sousa 3869 (PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe W Matopos, fr. xii.1955, Armitage 186/55 (K; SRGH).Botswana N Tati Concession, between Sebina and Kalamakati, fr. iv.1931, Pole Evans 3264 (FHO; PRE).
Distribution (external)
Angola
SW. Africa
Tanganyika
Transvaal
Natal
Swaziland
Cape Prov
Notes
Ptaeroxylon obliquum is appropriately known in S. Africa as “Sneezewood” or “Neishout” as its fine sawdust provokes violent sneezing. The Zulu name is “umtati” and this name may have been bestowed on Tati District in Bechuanaland Prot. when invaded by the Matabele impis when, surprisingly, they found the tree so far from their native Zulu-land (O. B. Miller, loc. cit.). The wood, which was formerly of great economic importance in S. Africa, is strong, durable and handsome, taking a fine polish and somewhat like Mahogany in appearance, but difficult to work. Its durability is its highest quality as it is practically imperishable. It has been greatly used for under-structure piles in house building, fencing poles and telegraph poles. When used as machine bearings Sneezewood wears longer than brass or iron.Ptaeroxylon has a scattered distribution across southern Africa from the Cuanza Norte District of Angola to the eastern Cape. Specimens from the two geographical limits are very different but are connected by a long chain of intermediates. In our area specimens from the Matopos Hills and adjoining parts of Bechuanaland Prot. consistently have fewer broader more obtuse leaflets than those from Mozambique.
Date Updated: 26 July 2007
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 2, Part 2, page 547, (1966) Author: F. White and B. T. Styles
Names
Ptaeroxylon obliquum Thunb. Radlk. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], in Sitz.-Ber. Bayer. Akad. 20: 165 (1890). — Gürke in Engl., Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C: 232 (1895). — Siebenlist, Forstwirtsch. in Deutsch-Ostafr: 98 (1914). — Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1: 800, t. 376 (1915). — Chalk & al. in Chalk & Burtt Davy, For. Trees Brit. Emp. 3: 56, t. 8, fig. 11 (1935). — Brenan, T.T.C.L.: 318 (1949). — Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Moçamb. 2: 114 (1949); Dendrol. Mozamb. 1: 197 cum photogr. et tab. (1951). — Exell & Mendonça, C.F.A. 1, 2: 306 (1951). — O.B. Mill. in Journ. S. Afr. Bot. 18: 39 (1952). TAB. 118. Type from S. Africa.
Rhus obliqua Thunb. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], Fl. Cap. 2: 224 (1818). — DC., Prod. 2: 68 (1825). Type as above.
Ptaeroxylon utile Eckl. & Zeyh. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], Enum. Pl. Afr. Austr. Extratrop. 1: 54 (1834–35?). — Harv., Thes. Cap. 1: 11, t. 17 (?1859). — Sond. in Harv. & Sond., F.C. 1: 243 (1860). — Sim, For. & For. Fl. Col. Cape Good Hope: 166, t. 31 (1907). Type from S. Africa (Cape Prov.).
Ptaeroxylon utile forma robustum Szyszyl. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], Polypet. Disc. Rehm.: 48 (1888) (“Pteroxylon”). Type from the Transvaal.
Information
Shrub or small to medium-sized tree up to 15 m. tall, usually deciduous; bole up to 0·3 m. in diam. at breast height, rarely more; bark whitish-grey and smooth at first, later darker with longitudinal fissures. Leaves densely puberulous when young, the hairs sometimes persisting on the petiole and rhachis and less densely so on the lamina; rhachis (+ petiole) up to 12 cm. long, flattened and slightly winged, usually ending in a short appendage; leaflets 3–7-jugate, subsessile, opposite, rarely subopposite, exceptionally alternate, leaflet-lamina up to 5 × 2·4 cm., usually much smaller, very asymmetric, apex obtuse, rounded or emarginate, rarely mucronate, base cuneate, secondary nerves rather close together, prominent on both surfaces. Inflorescence up to 5 cm. long, axillary or in the axils of fallen leaves. Flowers pale yellow, usually appearing before or with the new leaves. Calyx c. 1 mm. long, sparsely puberulous; lobes acute. Petals c. 5 × 1·5 mm., glabrous except for the ciliolate margin. Stamens c. 3·5 mm. long; staminodes c. 2 mm.; antherodes minute. Ovary c. 1·75 mm. long, style about 1·25 mm. long; pistillode minute, embedded in the disk, sometimes with two vestigial styles and loculi. Capsule chestnut-brown with conspicuous veins, c. 18 × 12 mm. Seed c. 16 × 6 mm.
Habitat
In our area recorded only from open woodland and scrub, especially in rocky places; elsewhere often a constituent of closed forest. Sometimes planted in gardens.
Altitude range
from near sea-level to 1525 m
1525
0
Distribution
Zimbabwe S Ndanga, Mutewa R., st. vii.1959,. Savory 501 (SRGH).Mozambique M Maputo, Santaca, fl. x.1948, Gomes e Sousa 3869 (PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe W Matopos, fr. xii.1955, Armitage 186/55 (K; SRGH).Botswana N Tati Concession, between Sebina and Kalamakati, fr. iv.1931, Pole Evans 3264 (FHO; PRE).
Distribution (external)
Angola
SW. Africa
Tanganyika
Transvaal
Natal
Swaziland
Cape Prov
Notes
Ptaeroxylon obliquum is appropriately known in S. Africa as “Sneezewood” or “Neishout” as its fine sawdust provokes violent sneezing. The Zulu name is “umtati” and this name may have been bestowed on Tati District in Bechuanaland Prot. when invaded by the Matabele impis when, surprisingly, they found the tree so far from their native Zulu-land (O. B. Miller, loc. cit.). The wood, which was formerly of great economic importance in S. Africa, is strong, durable and handsome, taking a fine polish and somewhat like Mahogany in appearance, but difficult to work. Its durability is its highest quality as it is practically imperishable. It has been greatly used for under-structure piles in house building, fencing poles and telegraph poles. When used as machine bearings Sneezewood wears longer than brass or iron.Ptaeroxylon has a scattered distribution across southern Africa from the Cuanza Norte District of Angola to the eastern Cape. Specimens from the two geographical limits are very different but are connected by a long chain of intermediates. In our area specimens from the Matopos Hills and adjoining parts of Bechuanaland Prot. consistently have fewer broader more obtuse leaflets than those from Mozambique.
Date Updated: 26 July 2007
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 2, Part 2, page 547, (1966) Author: F. White and B. T. Styles
Names
Ptaeroxylon obliquum Thunb. Radlk. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], in Sitz.-Ber. Bayer. Akad. 20: 165 (1890). — Gürke in Engl., Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C: 232 (1895). — Siebenlist, Forstwirtsch. in Deutsch-Ostafr: 98 (1914). — Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 3, 1: 800, t. 376 (1915). — Chalk & al. in Chalk & Burtt Davy, For. Trees Brit. Emp. 3: 56, t. 8, fig. 11 (1935). — Brenan, T.T.C.L.: 318 (1949). — Gomes e Sousa, Dendrol. Moçamb. 2: 114 (1949); Dendrol. Mozamb. 1: 197 cum photogr. et tab. (1951). — Exell & Mendonça, C.F.A. 1, 2: 306 (1951). — O.B. Mill. in Journ. S. Afr. Bot. 18: 39 (1952). TAB. 118. Type from S. Africa.
Rhus obliqua Thunb. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], Fl. Cap. 2: 224 (1818). — DC., Prod. 2: 68 (1825). Type as above.
Ptaeroxylon utile Eckl. & Zeyh. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], Enum. Pl. Afr. Austr. Extratrop. 1: 54 (1834–35?). — Harv., Thes. Cap. 1: 11, t. 17 (?1859). — Sond. in Harv. & Sond., F.C. 1: 243 (1860). — Sim, For. & For. Fl. Col. Cape Good Hope: 166, t. 31 (1907). Type from S. Africa (Cape Prov.).
Ptaeroxylon utile forma robustum Szyszyl. [family PTAEROXYLACEAE], Polypet. Disc. Rehm.: 48 (1888) (“Pteroxylon”). Type from the Transvaal.
Information
Shrub or small to medium-sized tree up to 15 m. tall, usually deciduous; bole up to 0·3 m. in diam. at breast height, rarely more; bark whitish-grey and smooth at first, later darker with longitudinal fissures. Leaves densely puberulous when young, the hairs sometimes persisting on the petiole and rhachis and less densely so on the lamina; rhachis (+ petiole) up to 12 cm. long, flattened and slightly winged, usually ending in a short appendage; leaflets 3–7-jugate, subsessile, opposite, rarely subopposite, exceptionally alternate, leaflet-lamina up to 5 × 2·4 cm., usually much smaller, very asymmetric, apex obtuse, rounded or emarginate, rarely mucronate, base cuneate, secondary nerves rather close together, prominent on both surfaces. Inflorescence up to 5 cm. long, axillary or in the axils of fallen leaves. Flowers pale yellow, usually appearing before or with the new leaves. Calyx c. 1 mm. long, sparsely puberulous; lobes acute. Petals c. 5 × 1·5 mm., glabrous except for the ciliolate margin. Stamens c. 3·5 mm. long; staminodes c. 2 mm.; antherodes minute. Ovary c. 1·75 mm. long, style about 1·25 mm. long; pistillode minute, embedded in the disk, sometimes with two vestigial styles and loculi. Capsule chestnut-brown with conspicuous veins, c. 18 × 12 mm. Seed c. 16 × 6 mm.
Habitat
In our area recorded only from open woodland and scrub, especially in rocky places; elsewhere often a constituent of closed forest. Sometimes planted in gardens.
Altitude range
from near sea-level to 1525 m
1525
0
Distribution
Zimbabwe S Ndanga, Mutewa R., st. vii.1959,. Savory 501 (SRGH).Mozambique M Maputo, Santaca, fl. x.1948, Gomes e Sousa 3869 (PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe W Matopos, fr. xii.1955, Armitage 186/55 (K; SRGH).Botswana N Tati Concession, between Sebina and Kalamakati, fr. iv.1931, Pole Evans 3264 (FHO; PRE).
Distribution (external)
Angola
SW. Africa
Tanganyika
Transvaal
Natal
Swaziland
Cape Prov
Notes
Ptaeroxylon obliquum is appropriately known in S. Africa as “Sneezewood” or “Neishout” as its fine sawdust provokes violent sneezing. The Zulu name is “umtati” and this name may have been bestowed on Tati District in Bechuanaland Prot. when invaded by the Matabele impis when, surprisingly, they found the tree so far from their native Zulu-land (O. B. Miller, loc. cit.). The wood, which was formerly of great economic importance in S. Africa, is strong, durable and handsome, taking a fine polish and somewhat like Mahogany in appearance, but difficult to work. Its durability is its highest quality as it is practically imperishable. It has been greatly used for under-structure piles in house building, fencing poles and telegraph poles. When used as machine bearings Sneezewood wears longer than brass or iron.Ptaeroxylon has a scattered distribution across southern Africa from the Cuanza Norte District of Angola to the eastern Cape. Specimens from the two geographical limits are very different but are connected by a long chain of intermediates. In our area specimens from the Matopos Hills and adjoining parts of Bechuanaland Prot. consistently have fewer broader more obtuse leaflets than those from Mozambique.
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