Olax obtusifolia
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Lusaka 1976
Drawing: Patricia Bingham
Lusaka 1976
Drawing: Patricia Bingham
Photo: Ian Riddell
Chizarira National Park
Photo: Ian Riddell
Chizarira National Park
Photo: Ian Riddell
Chizarira National Park
Photo: Ian Riddell
Chizarira National Park
Photo: Ian Riddell
Chizarira National Park
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | Large-fruited olax (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Shrub or small tree with a rounded crown. Leaves ovate to elliptic, dull light green, thinly textured, hairless, apex broadly tapering to rounded. Flowers in small axillary clusters, rarely solitary, creamy-white. Fruit a spherical drupe, c. 2.5 cm in diameter, yellow-orange when ripe. |
| Type location: |
DRC |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | obtusifolia: with leaves obtuse (rounded, not pointed at the apex). |
| Habitat: | In hot and dry woodland. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | Oct - Nov |
| Worldwide distribution: | Katanga, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
| FZ divisions: | N |
| Growth form(s): | Tree, shrub over 2 m. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | Hypolycaena caeculus caeculus (Food plant) |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Saturday 9 November 2019 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 109. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 196. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 235. Garcia, J.G. (1963). Olacaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 332 - 334. Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1967). The influence of copper content of the soil on trees and shrubs of Molly South Hill, Mangula Kirkia 6(1) Pages 63 - 84. 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 65. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 128. |
Other sources of information about Olax obtusifolia:
Our websites:
Flora of Malawi: Olax obtusifoliaFlora of Zambia: Olax obtusifolia
Flora of Zimbabwe: Olax obtusifolia
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Olax obtusifoliaAfrican Plant Database: Olax obtusifolia
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Olax obtusifolia
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Olax obtusifolia
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Olax obtusifolia
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Olax obtusifolia
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Olax obtusifolia
JSTOR Plant Science: Olax obtusifolia
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Olax obtusifolia
Plants of the World Online: Olax obtusifolia
Tropicos: Olax obtusifolia
Wikipedia: Olax obtusifolia