Voacanga africana Stapf

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Voacanga africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road to Chiniziuwa River, Cheringoma

Voacanga africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Path to Pungwe River, Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park

Voacanga africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Path to Pungwe River, Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park

Voacanga africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Path to Pungwe River, Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park

Voacanga africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Path to Pungwe River, Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park

Voacanga africana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Zomba Community

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Voacanga africana var. auriculata Pichon
Voacanga angolensis Stapf ex Hiern
Voacanga boehmii K. Schum.
Voacanga lutescens Stapf
Voacanga schweinfurthii Stapf
Common names: Small-fruited voacanga (English)
Frequency: Frequent
Status: Native
Description:
Shrub or small tree. Bark greyish, smooth; branches with conspicuous lenticels. Milky latex present. Leaves opposite with axillary glands, sessile, broadly elliptic to obovate, c. 15-17 cm long; apex rather abruptly and distinctly pointed. Flowers 3-4 cm in diameter, white, in large terminal and axillary heads, strongly and unpleasantly scented. Fruit asymmetrically ovoid to round, c. 5 cm long, mottled green with brown lenticels, turning pale brown when dry.
Type location:
Sierra Leone
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: africana: African
Habitat: In sandy soils along riverbanks and in mixed woodland and coastal forest.
Altitude range: (metres) Up to 1850 m
Flowering time:Nov - Jan
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in tropical Africa and in the islands of the Gulf of Guinea.
FZ divisions: N,Z,MS
Growth form(s): Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species: Sthenias puncticornis (Uncertain)
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Sunday 23 November 2008
Literature:

Beentje, H. (2021). Apocynaceae, sous-familes I. Apocynoideae et II. Rauvolfioideae Flore d' Afrique Centrale Jardin botanique de Meise Pages 244 - 247. (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 803. (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 27.

Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22 SANBI, Pretoria Page 39.

Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 162.

Leeuwenberg, A.J.M. & Kupicha, F.K. et al. (1985). Apocynaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(2) Pages 435 - 437. (Includes a picture).

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 19.

Meerts, P. & Hasson, M. (2016). Arbres et arbustes du Haut-Katanga Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Pages 0 - 242. (Includes a picture).

Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 54.


Other sources of information about Voacanga africana:

Our websites:

Flora of Angola: Voacanga africana
Flora of Burundi: Voacanga africana
Flora of the DRC: Voacanga africana
Flora of Kenya: Voacanga africana
Flora of Malawi: Voacanga africana
Flora of Tanzania: Voacanga africana
Flora of Uganda: Voacanga africana
Flora of Zambia: Voacanga africana
Flora of Zimbabwe: Voacanga africana

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2007-26

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2026). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Voacanga africana.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=145080, retrieved 26 August 2026

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