Azima tetracantha Lam.

Salvadoraceae, A. R. Vickery. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology General Habit

Dioecious shrubs to 3(5) m. high, stems usually much branched, sometimes scrambling, bearing paired or solitary axillary straight spines.

Morphology Stem

Young stems green, sometimes 4–angled, glabrous or pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf–blades elliptic or oblong to suborbicular, 1·3–5·0 cm. long, 0·7–4·5 cm. wide, with stiff mucro at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small, in axillary clusters, often elongating, into interrupted spikes near ends of twigs. Male flowers: stamens inserted at base of rudimentary ovary, alternating with petals, anthers exserted. Female flowers: staminoides with short filaments bearing sagittate sterile anthers; ovary up to 4–5 mm. long; 2–locular with 1–2 ovules per locule; stigma sessile.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate, 4–toothed, 2–4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla greenish, petals 4, 2–5 mm. long.

sex Male

Male flowers: stamens inserted at base of rudimentary ovary, alternating with petals, anthers exserted.

sex Female

Female flowers: staminoides with short filaments bearing sagittate sterile anthers; ovary up to 4–5 mm. long; 2–locular with 1–2 ovules per locule; stigma sessile.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berries green, turning white, 0·6–0·8 cm. diameter, stigma persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds discoidal, dark brown.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/146270661/146445013

Conservation

LC - least concern

Salvadoraceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

A much branched, tangled, evergreen shrub, 0.6–3 m. tall, with spines up to 3.5 cm. or more long, pale green, glabrous, slightly pubescent or hairy (in some Indian material); branches ± angled, often arching or scandent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves yellow-green; lamina elliptic or oblong to suborbicular, 1.4–5.7(–6.5) cm. long, 0.5–5.6 cm. wide, mucronate (the mucro small but sharp); venation rather prominent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small, greenish, in small axillary clusters, often running into interrupted spikes at the ends of the twigs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berries green, turning white, similar to those of mistletoe, ± 0.6–0.8 cm. in diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds discoidal, black.

Figures

Fig. 1.

Habitat

In scrub on eroded ground, and particularly on ± saline soils near lakes and seasonal rivers, also in coastal bushland (often not far from high-water mark); 0–1120 m.

Distribution

widespread from Arabia and the Somali Republic through East and Central Africa to South and South West Africa, Madagascar, Aldabra and Comoro Is., extending to India, Ceylon and Philippines K5 K6 K7 P T1 T2 T3 T5 T6 T8 U2 Z

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Evergreen, often scandent shrub, up to 3 m tall, usually glabrous; bark yellowish-grey; spines up to 4 cm long, usually in 4’s

Morphology Leaves

Leaves yellow-green; blade elliptic to almost round, 2–6 x 1–6 cm, cuneate at the base, mucronate at the apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers cream or yellow-green, in axillary clusters or spikes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berries translucent white when ripe, globose, 6–8 mm in diam.

Distribution

N1–3; S2, 3 widespread in tropical and southern Africa, but absent in Ethiopia and Eritrea, also in the Arabian Peninsula and extending to India and South-East Asia.

Ecology

Altitude range 0–1740 m.

Vernacular

Goda halal, kidi, loh-loh, qodax tool, simoodi (Somali)