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Synonyms: |
Balsamodendrum molle Oliv. Commiphora welwitschii Engl. |
Common names: | Soft-leaved commiphora (English) Velvet-leaved corkwood (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Small to medium-sized unarmed tree. Bark grey to brown, smooth or flaking in rather thick discs; watery to milky sap present; older trees often fluted. Leaves alternate, imparipinnate with 2-6 pairs leaflets and a terminal leaflet; leaflets elliptic, up to 6 × 3 cm, lower pairs often smaller, greyish-green, shortly hairy, paler and more densely hairy below; margin entire. Flowers in small axillary clusters, yellowish to pinkish, appearing before or with the new leaves. Fruit almost round, c. 1 cm in diameter, red when ripe, densely hairy, splitting to reveal a black seed with a 4-lobed bright red pseudo-aril. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | mollis: soft |
Habitat: | In hot and dry woodland, often on rocky outcrops. |
Flowering time: | Oct - Nov |
Worldwide distribution: | Angola, Botswana, DRC, Namibia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and northern South Africa. |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | Lower Risk - least concern |
Insects associated with this species: | Palasea albimacula (Larval foodplant) |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Content last updated: | Wednesday 8 April 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 372. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 10. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 435. Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 288 - 289. (Includes a picture). Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 249. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Namibia Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 77. 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 31. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 37. Schmidt, E., Lötter, M. & McCleland, W. (2002). Trees and shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Jacana, Johannesburg, South Africa Pages 246 - 247. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 42. Setshogo, M.P. & Venter, F. (2003). Trees of Botswana: names and distribution SABONET Report No. 18 Southern African Botanical Diversity Network, Pretoria Page 38. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 31. as Commiphora sp. nr. mollis Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 63. Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik, South Africa Pages 448 - 449. (Includes a picture). Van Wyk, B. & Van Wyk, P. (2013). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa (Second edition) Struik, South Africa Pages 522 - 523. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1963). Burseraceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 272 - 273. (Includes a picture). |
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