Synadenium kirkii N.E. Br.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Archway Gorge, Mweredzi River, Gorongosa National Park

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Synonyms:	Synadenium gazense N.E. Br. Synadenium grantii sensu N.E. Br.
Common names:	Northern dead-man's tree (English)
Frequency:	locally frequent
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small tree with fleshy stems and branches. Milky latex present. Leaves spirally arranged, crowded near the ends of branches, c. 11-18 cm long, thick and fleshy, green, often tinged purple-red, more or less broadly obovate, subsessile, pubescent on the basal part and the margins above, more densely so below; midrib prominent below. Flowers in sub-umbellate axillary and terminal heads, yellowish-green, unisexual on the same tree. Fruit acutely lobed, c. 6.5 mm, pale brown, thinly pubescent, dehiscent.
Type location:
Notes:	See Synadenium cameronii for comparison, which is best distinguished by the leaves being entirely hairless.
Derivation of specific name:	kirkii: named after Dr John Kirk, who accompanied David Livingstone on his Zambezi expedition of 1858
Habitat:	In mixed deciduous woodland, often on rocky outcrops.
Altitude range: (metres)	45 - 1000 m
Flowering time:	Apr - May
Worldwide distribution:	Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe.
FZ divisions:	Z,T,MS
Growth form(s):	Climber, 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:	Monday 20 May 2013
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 472. (Includes a picture). Carter, S. & Leach, L.C. (2001). Euphorbiaceae: subfamily Euphorbioideae: tribe Euphorbieae Flora Zambesiaca 9(5) Pages 437 - 438. 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 43.

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Flora of Malawi: Synadenium kirkii
Flora of Zimbabwe: Synadenium kirkii

External websites:

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