Heteropyxis natalensis Harv.

Heteropyxidaceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Tree up to 10 m. high or shrub, with whitish bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina (2·5)4·5–7(8–9) x (0·6) 1–2·2 cm., narrowly to broadly lanceolate, attenuate at the base into a canaliculate petiole up to 1 cm. long and at the apex into an acute tip, membranous to chartaceous, dull green above, light green below, sparsely appressed pilose on both surfaces, becoming glabrous when old; midrib grooved above, very prominent beneath, lateral nerves inconspicuous or sometimes with 1 prominent pair, reticulation close and very conspicuous, usually with a gland-dot in each mesh.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes paniculate, the male panicles longer and broader than the female; inflorescence axis and pedicels ± sparsely appressed-pilose; bracteoles minute, up to 1 mm. long, carinate, appressed-pilose and gland-dotted outside; pedicels c. 2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

male flower: receptacle 1–1·5 x 1·5–1·75 mm., sparsely pilose and gland-dotted outside; calyx-lobes c. 0·75 mm., triangular, obtuse; petals 1·5–2 x 1–2·5 mm., ovate, slightly unguiculate, reticulately nerved, gland-dotted, inserted at the mouth of the receptacle-tube; stamens (4)5–7(8), inserted near the margin of the disk; filaments c. 2 mm. long, sometimes slightly unequal; anthers c. 1 mm. broad, ± pilose; pistillode c. 0·75 x 1 mm., turbinate, ± wrinkled, gland-dotted outside; style up to 0·5 mm. long, with a capitate stigma. female flower: perianth as in male; staminodes c. 1 mm. long; ovary subglobose, c. 1·25 in diam., usually bilobate, gland-dotted outside; style c. 2 mm. long, glabrous; stigma capitate, papillose.

sex Male

male flower: receptacle 1–1·5 x 1·5–1·75 mm., sparsely pilose and gland-dotted outside; calyx-lobes c. 0·75 mm., triangular, obtuse; petals 1·5–2 x 1–2·5 mm., ovate, slightly unguiculate, reticulately nerved, gland-dotted, inserted at the mouth of the receptacle-tube; stamens (4)5–7(8), inserted near the margin of the disk; filaments c. 2 mm. long, sometimes slightly unequal; anthers c. 1 mm. broad, ± pilose; pistillode c. 0·75 x 1 mm., turbinate, ± wrinkled, gland-dotted outside; style up to 0·5 mm. long, with a capitate stigma.

sex Female

female flower: perianth as in male; staminodes c. 1 mm. long; ovary subglobose, c. 1·25 in diam., usually bilobate, gland-dotted outside; style c. 2 mm. long, glabrous; stigma capitate, papillose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule subglobose or ellipsoid, 2–3 x 1·75–2 mm., gland-dotted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ± straight, the outer ones c. 1·75 x 0·75 mm., ± winged at both ends.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident