Order: Sapindales. Family: Sapindaceae
Pilanesberg
Description
The jacket plum is a long-lived, hardy, evergreen, small to medium tree with a height of 2-8 m.
Bark of young branches is smooth and pale grey and may be broken into small blocks. The bark of older trees and branches is darker and rougher, with irregular pale and dark patches. The leaves are simple and oblong, hard-textured and wavy. The leaf margin may vary from sharply toothed (especially in young growth) to almost smooth in mature growth. Leaves vary in size, depending on the rainfall. They are dark olive-green above and pale below, with a conspicuous yellow central vein that is visible from both sides (25 x 100 – 80 x 160 mm). Small, pale yellowy-green, scented flowers grow in spikes between the leaves (Oct – Mar) (Spike: 25 – 160 mm). The fruit grows in bunches. Black seeds are contained in the red flesh. Dark shells of the fruit may be found on the ground, long after the fruit has dropped (Dec – Jul) (20 mm).
Distribution
Pappea capensis is widespread in southern Africa from the Northern Cape through the drier Karoo, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, to the northern provinces, as well as Mozambique, Zimbabwe and northwards into eastern and southern tropical Africa.
Habitat
It naturally occurs in bushveld, riverine thicket, wooded grassland and rocky outcrops in grassland as well as scrub veld and is often found on termite mounds.
Links: Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Braam Van Wyk, Piet Van Wyk
© arks
© arks