Home | > | List of families | > | Phyllanthaceae | > | Bridelia | > | mollis |
Synonyms: |
Bridelia scandens sensu Eyles |
Common names: | Velvet sweetberry (English) Velvet-leaved bridelia (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Shrub or small tree. Bark dark brown to grey, rough with longitudinal striations; young shoots densely velvety. Leaves alternate, ovate to obovate, 3 - 12 cm long, light green and densely velvety on both surfaces; lateral veins conspicuously parallel; apex rounded, often notched; margin entire but sometimes appearing scalloped between the veins. Flowers in tight axillary clusters, small greenish-yellow, unisexual on the same tree. Fruit a subspherical fleshy berry, c. 10 × 8 mm, black when ripe, edible. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | mollis: soft, referring to the velvety hairy leaves. |
Habitat: | In sandy soils among rocks or on granite kopjes. |
Altitude range: | 80 - 1525 m |
Flowering time: | Nov - Feb |
Worldwide distribution: | Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and North-West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, South Africa. |
Mozambique distribution: | N,Z,T,MS,M |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Friday 6 November 2015 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 410. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 251. 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 40. Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 13 - 14. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 55. Shone, D.K. & Drummond, R.B. (1965). Poisonous Plants of Rhodesia Ministry of Agriculture, Rhodesia Page 59. |
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