Gymnosporia buxifolia (L.) Szyszyl.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Leopard Rock Game Reserve, Vumba

Photo: Mark Hyde
Bridal Veil Falls, Chimanimani

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Synonyms:	Maytenus heterophylla (Eckl. & Zeyh.) N. Robson subsp. heterophylla (pro parte)
Common names:	Common spike-thorn (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Variable shrub or small tree, usually with somewhat drooping branches, armed with long straight spines. Leaves usually clustered on very short dwarf spur-branchlets in the axils of the spines or occasionally on green spines, more or less narrowly obovate-oblanceolate, mostly 2.5-4.5 cm long, rarely longer, green and hairless on both surfaces but often paler beneath; margin finely an irregularly toothed, normally only in the upper half. Flowers whitish, in many-flowered heads among the leaf clusters on strongly and unpleasantly scented. Fruit a subspherical, 3-lobed capsule, c. 10 mm in diameter, greenish-yellow to greyish-brown and wrinkled when dry.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	buxifolia: with leaves like a Buxus sp.
Habitat:	In a wide range of habitats, often as a pioneer in disturbed places.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Mostly Feb - Jun
Worldwide distribution:	Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa
Mozambique distribution:	MS,GI,M
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 506. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 29. also as Gymnosporia heterophylla Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 19. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 19. As Gymnosporia heterophylla Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 604. Coates Palgrave, M. (1989). Guide to the trees and shrubs of the Mukuvisi Woodlands ?publisher. Page 18. as Maytenus heterophylla 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 42. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 28. As Maytenus heterophylla Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 255. As Maytenus heterophylla heterophylla 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 33. Robson, N.K.B. (1966). Celastraceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(2) Pages 364 - 366. as Maytenus heterophylla subsp. heterophylla (in part) (Includes a picture). Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 336 - 338. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 45. 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. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 42. Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 122 - 123. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 90. As Gymnosporia heterophylla

Other sources of information about Gymnosporia buxifolia:

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Flora of Botswana: Gymnosporia buxifolia
Flora of Burundi: Gymnosporia buxifolia
Flora of Malawi: Gymnosporia buxifolia
Flora of Zambia: Gymnosporia buxifolia
Flora of Zimbabwe: Gymnosporia buxifolia

External websites:

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