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Synonyms: |
Vangueria tomentosa Hochst. |
Common names: | Velvet wild medlar (English) |
Frequency: | Common |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Small deciduous tree. Young branches and leaves velvety hairy. Flowers in branched, densely hairy inflorescences, greenish-yellow creamy-white, appearing before the leaves are fully developed. Fruits in pairs along the branches, held below the leaves, round, up to 45 mm, green to yellowish brown when ripe. The fruits are edible. |
Notes: | Superficially similar to Vangueriopsis lanciflora when in leaf. Subsp. rotundata is distinguished by more extensively branched inflorescences, fully developed leaves at the time of flowering and more pointed corolla lobes. Leaves of this species are often infested with distinctly stalked galls caused by the gall mite Acalitus mallyi in the family Eriophyidae. |
Derivation of specific name: | infausta: bad luck or disastrous; probably referring to the traditional superstitions involved with this tree. |
Habitat: | In different types of woodland and wooded grassland, often on rocky hillsides. |
Altitude range: | Up to 1870 m |
Flowering time: | Sep - Nov |
Worldwide distribution: | From Rwanda and Tanzania to KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, South Africa |
Mozambique distribution: | N,T,MS,GI,M |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | Heterorachis devocata (Larval foodplant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Friday 11 March 2016 |
Literature: |
Bridson, D.M. (1998). Rubiaceae, Part 2 Flora Zambesiaca 5(2) Pages 249 - 250. Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 934. As Vangueria infausta (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 57. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 36. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Pages 1077 - 1078. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, M. (1989). Guide to the trees and shrubs of the Mukuvisi Woodlands ?publisher. Page 27. as Vangueria infausta Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 614 - 615. (Includes a picture). 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 106. 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 29. As Vangueria infausta Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 276. As Vangueria infausta 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 74. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 94. Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 656 - 657. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 99. Setshogo, M.P. & Venter, F. (2003). Trees of Botswana: names and distribution SABONET Report No. 18 Southern African Botanical Diversity Network, Pretoria Pages 17 - 18. 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 29. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 82. As Vangueria tomentosa (Includes a picture). Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 274 - 275. as Vangueria infausta (Includes a picture). Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (2013). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa (Second edition) Struik, South Africa Pages 322 - 323. (Includes a picture). White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia Oxford Univ. Press. Pages 424 - 425. As Vangueria tomentosa White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of Malawi Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Page 502. as Vangueria infausta |
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