Cleistochlamys kirkii (Benth.) Oliv.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road no. 2, Gorongosa National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Road no. 2 near junction road no 1, Gorongosa National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Road 11, Gorongosa 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:	Popowia kirkii Benth.
Common names:	Purple cluster-pear (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small tree, often straggling. Bark pale, flaking. Leaves alternate, narrowly oblong to obovate, 6-11 cm, shiny green and glabrous above, bluish-green and very sparsely pubescent below, thinly textured, apex rounded, often notched; margin wavy. Flowers solitary axillary, creamy-white, c. 1.2 cm in diameter, appearing after the leaves have fallen. Fruit a cluster of up to 10 cylindric carpels, c. 2.5 cm, purple-black when ripe, edible.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	kirkii: named after Dr John Kirk, who accompanied David Livingstone on his Zambezi expedition of 1858
Habitat:	On alluvium soils in hot and dry river valleys.
Altitude range:	Up to 900 m
Flowering time:	Sep - Oct
Worldwide distribution:	Southeastern Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,T,MS,GI
Growth form(s):	Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Graphium antheus (Food plant) Graphium porthaon porthaon (Larval foodplant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Saturday 12 March 2016
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 120. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Pages 204 - 205. 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 23. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 236. 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 17. Robson, N.K.B. (1960). Annonaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1) Pages 120 - 121. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 39. Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 156 - 157. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Cleistochlamys kirkii:

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Flora of Malawi: Cleistochlamys kirkii
Flora of Zambia: Cleistochlamys kirkii
Flora of Zimbabwe: Cleistochlamys kirkii

External websites:

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