Englerophytum natalense

Silver-leaf milkplum
E. natalense in KwaZulu-Natal
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Sapotaceae
Genus: Englerophytum
Species: E. natalense
Binomial name
Englerophytum natalense
(Sond.) T.D.Penn.
Synonyms
  • Bequaertiodendron natalense (Sond.) Heine & J.H. Hemsl.
  • Chrysophyllum natalense Sond.[1]

Englerophytum natalense (Silver-leaf milkplum) is a medium-sized, evergreen tree that occurs along forested escarpments from East Africa to South Africa.[1] The leaves are alternately arranged or spiralled,[2] and to some extent crowded near the ends of branches. They are glossy green to greyish green above and covered in silvery hairs below.[1] The stem is straight and the bark smooth. Young branches are covered with dense brownish hairs.[2] The plant contains a milky latex.

It is a larval food plant of Euptera pluto kinugnana, Pseudacraea boisduvalii trimeni, P. eurytus imitator and P. lucretia.[2]

Similar species

Manilkara discolor has rough bark, attains a larger size, and is native to drier regions.[2]

Gallery

foliage
 
ripe fruit
 

See also

Media related to Englerophytum natalense at Wikimedia Commons

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hyde, Mark; et al. "Englerophytum natalense (Sond.) T.D. Penn.". Flora of Zimbabwe. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Nonyane, Frank (2013). "Englerophytum natalense (Sond.) T.D.Penn.". plantzafrica.com. SANBI. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
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