Maerua cafra

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Maerua cafra
Maerua cafra09.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Capparaceae
Genus: Maerua
Species:
M. cafra
Binomial name
Maerua cafra
(DC.) Pax
Flower buds Maerua cafra05.jpg
Flower buds
Fruit Maerua cafra06.jpg
Fruit

Maerua cafra (DC.) Pax is a small Southern African tree belonging to Capparaceae, the caper family, occurring eastwards along the coast from Knysna, then further inland and northwards through KwaZulu-Natal and Eswatini to the Transvaal, southern Mozambique and southern Zimbabwe. The genus Maerua comprises about 60 species found in Africa and Asia. [1] [2]

Contents

It may reach about 8 metres (26 ft) in height and occurs in dune bush, open woodland or on forest fringes. The leaves are digitately compound with from 3 to 5 leaflets, with entire, ciliate margins and petiolules of only 10 millimetres (0.4 in) or less in length, while the petiole may be up to 60 mm (2.4 in) long. The apex of the median leaflet may be apiculate and vary from broadly acute to rounded. The scented flowers are in terminal clusters with numerous white stamens tinged with green, though petals are absent. The four sepals are greenish in colour and about 17 mm (0.7 in) long, while the stamens are intricately folded in the unopened bud. A single gynophore protrudes from amongst the stamens in the open flower. The fruit is plum-like (oblong-ovoid), up to 50 mm (2.0 in) long, slightly ribbed with longitudinal suture lines clearly visible, and pendent from the long gynophore and peduncle. When ripe it remains green in colour, becoming wrinkled, soft and fragrant, and consumed by many species of bird. The fruit has a thick rind and holds up to 30 flattened, reniform seeds, distributed irregularly in a jelly-like pulp. The grey to dark brown bark, in common with many of this family, is liberally covered in lenticels. Branches and trunks are often markedly flattened rather than round. The wood is brittle and said to have a disagreeable odour when cut. In the past the roots have been ground up for use as a chicory substitute in coffee, and a decoction of roots for curbing menorrhagia and against female infertility. [3] [4] [5]

This species is one of the numerous Capparaceae host to the larvae of Belenois aurota , the Brown-veined White butterfly which migrates northwards across Southern Africa in large numbers at certain times of the year. Pinacopteryx eriphia larvae also feed on this species, as do those of Colotis antevippe  all these butterfly species belong to the family Pieridae. [6]

Synonyms

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Maerua racemulosa is a species of plant in the Capparaceae family, which is almost endemic to South Africa's coastal regions, where it is a constituent of shady forest understory and valley bushveld. They are shrubs or small trees, with mostly simple leaves, and entire margins. They flower profusely in mid-winter. Each flower bears numerous white filaments and a purple style, but no petals. The round fruit appear from August to October. These are yellow when ripe and 1 cm in diameter. It is a food plant for some species of Colotis butterfly.

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<i>Cadaba farinosa</i> Species of flowering plant

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Polanisia erosa is a sticky, 10–60 cm (3.9–23.6 in) high annual herbaceous species of flowering plant in the Cleome family, Cleomaceae, known by the common name large clammyweed. It has narrow clover-like leaves, and cream-coloured, frilly flowers with a yellowish centre, looking a bit like a small butterfly or a set of elk antlers. It naturally occurs in dry and sandy habitats in Texas and adjacent parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

References

  1. "Search results — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  2. "Maerua cafra [family CAPPARACEAE] on JSTOR". plants.jstor.org. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  3. "Maerua cafra | PlantZAfrica.com". www.plantzafrica.com. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  4. "Forest Flora of the Cape Colony" – T.R. Sim
  5. "Plantes médicinales" – Schmelzer & Gurib-Fakim
  6. "Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Maerua cafra". www.zimbabweflora.co.zw. Retrieved 2017-08-02.