| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | Forest sword-leaf (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Large tree with typically horizontal or drooping branches. Leaves oblong, dark green, with many translucent streaks and dots, seen against the light; leaf base asymmetrical. Flowers in dense clusters along the branches, very small, greenish. Fruit an ellipsoid capsule, yellow, splitting into 2-4 valves, revealing orange seeds. |
| Type location: |
Kenya |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | battiscombei: after Edward Battiscombe (1874-1971), botanical author, plant collector in Kenya and Tanzania and Conservator of Forests for the British East African Protectorate. |
| Habitat: | In evergreen forest |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1000 - 2000 m |
| Flowering time: | Oct |
| Worldwide distribution: | Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe |
| FZ divisions: | MS |
| Growth form(s): | Tree. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 173. (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 629. (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 74. 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 18. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 261. 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 53. Under Flacourtiaceae Wild, H. (1960). Flacourtiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Pages 294 - 295. (Includes a picture). |