Maerua racemulosa

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Maerua racemulosa
Maerua racemulosa, b, Burmanbos.jpg
In Burman Bush, Durban
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Capparaceae
Genus: Maerua
Species:
M. racemulosa
Binomial name
Maerua racemulosa
Gilg & Gilg-Ben.
Synonyms
  • Maerua pedunculosaSim
  • Boscia caffraSond.
  • Niebuhria pedunculosaHochst. [1]

Maerua racemulosa is a species of plant in the Capparaceae family, which is almost endemic to South Africa's coastal regions, [2] 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. [2] 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. [2] 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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References

  1. Foden, W., & Potter, L. "Maerua racemulosa (A.DC.) Gilg & Gilg-Ben". Red List of South African Plants. SANBI. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Palgrave, K.C. (1984). Trees of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik. pp. 196–197. ISBN   0-86977-081-0.

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