Maerua nervosa (Hochst.) Oliv.

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Photo: Meg Coates Palgrave
Bazaruto Island

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Synonyms:	Maerua floribunda Sim Niebuhria nervosa Hochst.
Common names:	Sausage-bean bush-cherry (English) Vein-leaved bush-cherry (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small tree up to c. 3 m tall. Leaves trifoliolate with occasional simple leaves present; leaflets up to 6 × 3.5 cm, ovate-elliptic to obovate, thinly textured, rather shiny on both surfaces, hairless with prominent veins; apex with a hair-like tip; margin entire. Flowers in axillary clusters; sepals green with puberulous margins; petals present, very small, white; stamens 10-20, up to c. 2 cm long. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid, up to 3.5 × 2 cm, shiny reddish-yellow.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	nervosa: nerved, veined, referring to the conspicuous net-veining of the leaves.
Habitat:	Mainly in coastal dune scrub and forest.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Jul - Sep
Worldwide distribution:	Mozambique, Zimbabwe and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Mozambique distribution:	GI,M
Growth form(s):	Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Tuesday 20 August 2013
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 162. (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. Wild, H. (1960). Capparaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Page 221.

Other sources of information about Maerua nervosa:

Our websites:

Flora of Zimbabwe: Maerua nervosa

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Maerua nervosa
African Plant Database: Maerua nervosa
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Maerua nervosa
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Maerua nervosa
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Maerua nervosa
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Maerua nervosa
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Maerua nervosa
JSTOR Plant Science: Maerua nervosa
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Maerua nervosa
Plants of the World Online: Maerua nervosa
Tropicos: Maerua nervosa
Wikipedia: Maerua nervosa