Cephalanthus natalensis Oliv.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Chimanimani National Park

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Synonyms:
Common names:	Strawberry bush (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Usually a canopy climber or scrambling shrub, rarely a small tree, up to 5 m high. Leaves ovate to ovate-elliptic, hairless; domatia usually present. Inflorescence a loose globular terminal head, 2–2.5 cm wide including corollas; peduncle 2–2.5 cm long. Flowers with white or greenish tube, lobes maroon; calyx red or pink. Fruit heads becoming fleshy.
Type location:
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	natalensis: of Natal, South Africa
Habitat:	In the margins of montane forest, it also rarely grows as a small tree in montane grassland.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Sep - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa.
National distribution:	Z,MS
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
Images last updated:	Thursday 11 April 2024
Literature:	Bridson, D.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2003). Rubiaceae, Part 3 Flora Zambesiaca 5(3) Pages 419 - 420. (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 949. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 12. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 274. 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 71. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 77. (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 161. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 98.

Other sources of information about Cephalanthus natalensis:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Cephalanthus natalensis
Flora of Zambia: Cephalanthus natalensis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Cephalanthus natalensis

External websites:

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