Dombeya shupangae K. Schum.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Road no. 2 between 1 and 4, Gorongosa National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along rd2, Gorongosa National Park.

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Synonyms:	Dombeya spectabilis sensu Sim
Common names:	Large-leaved wild pear (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Small tree. Leaves broadly ovate to sub-circular, up to 20 cm long, leathery, 5-7-veined from the base, occasionally somewhat lobed; margin irregularly toothed in the apical half. Flowers in branched axillary heads, white to pale pink. Fruit a subspherical capsule, surrounded by the dried petals, which act as wings to aid dispersal by wind.
Notes:	This species appears to be very similar to D. rotundifolia except for its larger leaves. The most important difference concerns the ovary, which is covered in very small, club-shaped papillae and not with hairs (See image 10). This feature can only be seen with a strong lens.
Derivation of specific name:	shupangae: of Shupanga, a mission on the banks of the lower Zambezi in Mozambique, where the type specimen was collected.
Habitat:	In woodland and along the margins of low-altitude evergreen forest.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Aug - Sep
Worldwide distribution:	Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,MS
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Friday 30 July 2021
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 589. (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 20. Seyani, J.H. (1991). The Genus Dombeya (Sterculiaceae) in Continental Africa Opera Bot. Belg. 2 Pages 109 - 111. Wild, H. (1960-1). Sterculiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Pages 519 - 526. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Malawi: Dombeya shupangae

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