Nuxia congesta
| Brittle-wood | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Habit on a cliff ledge, Gauteng | |
 | |
| Foliage and inflorescences | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Stilbaceae |
| Genus: | Nuxia |
| Species: | N. congesta |
| Binomial name | |
| Nuxia congesta R.Br. ex Fresen. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Over 40, including:[1]
| |
Nuxia congesta, commonly known as brittle-wood, is a species of tree in the Stilbaceae family, with an extensive range in the Afrotropics.[2] The species is named congesta for its dense inflorescences.[2][3] Its genus was formerly placed in the Loganiaceae, and later Buddlejaceae families.[4]
Range
The species is native to South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, northwards to tropical Africa, Ethiopia and southern Arabia.[4][3] It is also found on the islands in the Gulf of Guinea.[3]
Habitat
It is a component of woodland, bushveld or grassland, and occurs along forest verges, but has a predisposition for rocky terrain[2][3] and cliff ledges.
Similar species
Nuxia glomerulata has a restricted range between Pretoria and Zeerust, South Africa, and differs by its more elliptic, leathery and glabrous leaves.[2] Nuxia floribunda carries the leaves on long and slender petioles, and has larger and less dense inflorescences.[2][4]
References
- ↑ "Nuxia congesta R.Br. ex Fresen.". The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Mothogoane, M. S. (February 2011). "Nuxia congesta R.Br. ex Fresen.". PlantZAfrica. National Herbarium, SANBI. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Hyde, Mark; et al. "Nuxia congesta R. Br. ex Fresen.". Flora of Zimbabwe. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
- 1 2 3 Burring, Jan-Hakon (August 2004). "Nuxia floribunda Benth.". PlantZAfrica. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, SANBI. Retrieved 1 July 2015.