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Rapanea melanophloeos
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Small valley North-east of Mt Binga, Chimanimani Mts
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower eastern slopes of Mt Shangani, Mandzundzu, Chimanimani.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Lower eastern slopes of Mt Shangani, Mandzundzu, Chimanimani.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Gorongosa
Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Gorongosa
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| Synonyms: |
Myrsine melanophloeos (L.) R. Br. Myrsine neurophylla Gilg Myrsine rhodondendroides Gilg Myrsine runssorica Gilg Rapanea neurophylla (Gilg) Mez Rapanea pellucido-striata Gilg & Schellenb. Rapanea pulchra Gilg & Schellenb. Rapanea rhodondendroides (Gilg) mez Rapanea runssorica (Gilg) Mez Rapanea schliebenii Mildbr. Rapanea ulugurensis Mez Rapanea umbratilis S. Moore Rapanea usambarensis Gilg & Schellenb. Sideroxylon melanophloeos L. |
| Common names: | Cape beech (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Small to large evergreen tree with a straight stem, sometimes fluted at the base in large specimens. Leaves are crowded near the end of branches, elliptic to oblanceolate up to 15 cm long, leathery, hairless, with translucent dots and streaks; margin entire; petiole 5-10 mm long, typically pink to red, turning purple-brown in older leaves. Flowers are borne in small inconspicuous clusters, axillary along the branches, greenish-yellow. Fruit a globose, 1-seeded drupe, 3-5 mm in diameter, purple, borne on the previous year's wood. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | melanophloeos: with black bark |
| Habitat: | A species of montane evergreen and riverine forests, sometimes on more exposed rocky cliffs in high rainfall areas. |
| Altitude range: | |
| Flowering time: | Jun - Aug (often later) |
| Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical and southern Africa |
| Mozambique distribution: | N,Z,MS,M |
| Growth form(s): | Tree. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Tuesday 24 May 2022 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 216. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 732. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 47. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 869. (Includes a picture). 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 19. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 265. Kupicha, F.K. (1983). Myrsinaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(1) Pages 204 - 206. (Includes a picture). 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 64. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 81. Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 500 - 501. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 126. Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 74. Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 202 - 203. (Includes a picture). White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of Malawi Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pages 407 - 408. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 96. |
Other sources of information about Rapanea melanophloeos:
Our websites:
Flora of Burundi: Rapanea melanophloeosFlora of Malawi: Rapanea melanophloeos
Flora of Zambia: Rapanea melanophloeos
Flora of Zimbabwe: Rapanea melanophloeos
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Rapanea melanophloeosAfrican Plant Database: Rapanea melanophloeos
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Rapanea melanophloeos
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Rapanea melanophloeos
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Rapanea melanophloeos
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Rapanea melanophloeos
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Rapanea melanophloeos
JSTOR Plant Science: Rapanea melanophloeos
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Rapanea melanophloeos
Plants of the World Online: Rapanea melanophloeos
Tropicos: Rapanea melanophloeos
Wikipedia: Rapanea melanophloeos
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