Osyris compressa (Berg.) A.DC.

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Osyris compressa

Photo: Mark Hyde
By path on slopes above Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden, Cape Town

Osyris compressa

Photo: Mark Hyde
By path on slopes above Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden, Cape Town

Osyris compressa

Photo: Ton Rulkens
Close to Zongoene, Gaza province.

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Synonyms: Colpoon compressum P.J. Bergius
Thesium colpoon L.f.
Common names: Coastal tannin-bush (English)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Glabrous shrub or small tree, to 5 m. Leaves opposite or sometimes subopposite, elliptic, stiff; base cuneate; apex apiculate; midvein running down stem as narrow ridge. Flowers bisexual, arranged in small terminal panicles. Perianth pale greenish-yellow; tube very short; lobes usually 4. Stamens usually 4. Fruit 6-7 mm in diameter, ellipsoid, fleshy, red at maturity.
Notes: This species differs from Osyris lanceolata in having opposite (or subopposite) leaves and floral parts in fours (threes in O. lanceolata).
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: In scrub and forest on coastal dunes
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: In southern coastal Mozambique and South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal to Cape Peninsula)
Mozambique distribution: GI,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: Monday 20 January 2014
Literature:

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 107. (Includes a picture).

Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 194. (Includes a picture).

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 28.

Hilliard, O.M. (2006). Santalaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(3) Pages 242 - 246. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Osyris compressa:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Osyris compressa
Flora of Zambia: Osyris compressa

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave 2007-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Osyris compressa.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=176640, retrieved 29 March 2024

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