Gymnosporia heterophylla, the common spike-thorn, is a small, hardy, deciduous African tree up to 5m tall, occurring in rocky places with a wide distribution from Ethiopia, the Sudan and the Congo, south to the Cape Province and west to Angola and Namibia, as well as the neighbouring islands of Madagascar and Saint Helena, with a closely related species from Mauritius.
It has a straggly, but rigid habit and is armed with sharp straight thorns up to 100mm long, which are modified branches. Bark on the mature trunk is grey-brown and deeply fissured. The tree is dioecious, and clusters of white flowers are produced in profusion in spring and are borne on thicker twigs and branches. The flowers have a fetid, faecal smell and attract large numbers of pollinating insects, particularly carrion-loving flies such as members of the family Calliphoridae. The tree has a close relationship with a number of cicada species, such as Platypleura divisa, P. mijburghi and P. maytenophila.[1]
The specific name "heterophylla" means "variable leaves" and if the list of past synonyms is examined, it affords an interesting insight into the minds of botanists since 1753 when Linnaeus decided that the leaves reminded him of boxwood and named it Celastrus buxifolius. Since then it has been named ellipticus, heterophyllus, spathephyllus, empleurifolius, rhombifolius, parvifolius and buxifolioides - it would seem that the epithet heterophylla is appropriate.[2]
It makes a very effective, fast-growing security hedge. The wood is hard and durable, suitable for carving, though large pieces are not often available.
Pictures
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References
^[Sanborn, A.F. and Phillips, P.K. and Villet, M.H. (2003) Thermal responses in some Eastern Cape African Cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae). Journal of Thermal Biology, 28 (4). pp. 347-351. ISSN 0306-4565. . Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-10-21.]
^"Maytenus heterophylla in Global Plants on JSTOR". plants.jstor.org. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
gymnosporia, heterophylla, common, spike, thorn, small, hardy, deciduous, african, tree, tall, occurring, rocky, places, with, wide, distribution, from, ethiopia, sudan, congo, south, cape, province, west, angola, namibia, well, neighbouring, islands, madagasc. Gymnosporia heterophylla the common spike thorn is a small hardy deciduous African tree up to 5m tall occurring in rocky places with a wide distribution from Ethiopia the Sudan and the Congo south to the Cape Province and west to Angola and Namibia as well as the neighbouring islands of Madagascar and Saint Helena with a closely related species from Mauritius Gymnosporia heterophyllaScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder CelastralesFamily CelastraceaeGenus GymnosporiaSpecies G heterophyllaBinomial nameGymnosporia heterophylla Eckl amp Zeyh LoesSynonymsMaytenus heterophylla Eckl amp Zeyh Robson Gymonosporia buxifoliaIt has a straggly but rigid habit and is armed with sharp straight thorns up to 100mm long which are modified branches Bark on the mature trunk is grey brown and deeply fissured The tree is dioecious and clusters of white flowers are produced in profusion in spring and are borne on thicker twigs and branches The flowers have a fetid faecal smell and attract large numbers of pollinating insects particularly carrion loving flies such as members of the family Calliphoridae The tree has a close relationship with a number of cicada species such as Platypleura divisa P mijburghi and P maytenophila 1 The specific name heterophylla means variable leaves and if the list of past synonyms is examined it affords an interesting insight into the minds of botanists since 1753 when Linnaeus decided that the leaves reminded him of boxwood and named it Celastrus buxifolius Since then it has been named ellipticus heterophyllus spathephyllus empleurifolius rhombifolius parvifolius and buxifolioides it would seem that the epithet heterophylla is appropriate 2 It makes a very effective fast growing security hedge The wood is hard and durable suitable for carving though large pieces are not often available Pictures Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gymnosporia szyszylowiczii References Edit Sanborn A F and Phillips P K and Villet M H 2003 Thermal responses in some Eastern Cape African Cicadas Hemiptera Cicadidae Journal of Thermal Biology 28 4 pp 347 351 ISSN 0306 4565 Thermal responses in some Eastern Cape African Cicadas Hemiptera Cicadidae Rhodes eResearch Repository Archived from the original on 2011 07 18 Retrieved 2010 10 21 Maytenus heterophylla in Global Plants on JSTOR plants jstor org Retrieved 2017 08 04 Reinstatement of Gymnosporia https plants jstor org compilation maytenus heterophylla Gymnosporia Flora Kruger Park Retrieved 2010 02 12 permanent dead link Sources EditTrees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand Tree Society Witwatersrand University Press 1969 Trees and Shrubs of Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park Schmidt et al Jacana Press 2002 This tree related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gymnosporia heterophylla amp oldid 1106127657, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
