Calodendrum capense (L.f.) Thunb.

Images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record

Photo: Bart Wursten
Maleme Dam camp site

Synonyms:	Dictamnus capensis L.f.
Common names:	Cape chestnut (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Small to large tree. Younger branches armed with robust spines up to 2 cm long. Leaves simple, opposite, more or less broadly elliptic, up to 22 cm long, hairless when mature, translucent gland-dots present, aromatic when crushed, margin entire and wavy. Flowers in dense axillary heads, large and showy, pale to deep pink with a darker purple marrom glandular spots; petals long and narrow, alternating with petal-like staminodes. Fruit a 5-lobed capsule up to 3.5 cm in diameter, covered in tubercles, yellow-green when young to brown and woody when ripe, dehiscing from the base, valves remaining connected to the stalk at the apex.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	capense: of the Cape
Habitat:	In montane and riverine forest and densely wooded ravines.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Oct - Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa as far as the Western Cape.
Mozambique distribution:	MS
Growth form:
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):	Papilio demodocus demodocus (Citrus swallowtail)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Saturday 29 March 2008
Literature:

Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Calodendrum capense
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Calodendrum capense
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Calodendrum capense
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Calodendrum capense
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Calodendrum capense
JSTOR Plant Science: Calodendrum capense
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Calodendrum capense
Tropicos: Calodendrum capense
West African Plants database: Calodendrum capense