Diospyros squarrosa Klotzsch

First published in W.C.H.Peters, Naturw. Reise Mossambique 6(Bot., 1): 184 (1861)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Somalia to S. Tropical Africa. It is a shrub or tree and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome.

Descriptions

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
[AERP]

Ebenaceae, F. White & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1996

Morphology General Habit
Small deciduous tree or shrub 2-10 m. tall; bark grey or brown, smooth or with close and shallow longitudinal fissures; young shoots pale ferruginous pubescent.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves red when young, drying pale brown with pale yellow nerves above and beneath, obovate, 5.5-12 cm. long, 3-6.5 cm. wide, shortly cuspidate at the apex, cuneate to truncate at the base, subcoriaceous; lower surface densely setulose on the midrib, sparsely so elsewhere; very young leaves ± velvety on both surfaces and mature leaves sometimes entirely glabrous; lateral nerves in 6-9 pairs, prominent beneath; tertiary nerves subscalariform, with the venation closely reticulate, prominent above and more so beneath.
sex Male
Male flowers (1-)3(-7), in lax cymes borne towards the base of the current year’ s shoot in the axils of fallen reduced leaves and the first-formed foliage leaves; peduncle ± 6 mm. long; pedicels 1-3 mm. long, fulvous-tomentellous; calyx 2.5 mm. long, strigulose-tomentellous outside, glabrous inside, 4-lobed to ± the middle, the lobes ± round; corolla subrotate, 7 mm. long, strigulose on mid-petaline lines but otherwise glabrous; corolla-tube 1.5 mm. long; corolla-lobes 4, ovate-ligulate; stamens 24-28, 4-5 mm. long; filaments 1-1.5 mm. long, glabrous, inserted singly or in pairs on the corolla-tube; anthers linear-lanceolate, apiculate, glabrous or strigulose; rudimentary ovary 1 mm. long and wide, sparsely setulose.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Female flowers solitary, borne as in male; pedicel 4 mm. long; calyx 6 mm. long, more deeply lobed than in male, the lobes markedly inbricate; corolla greenish, 7-8.5 mm. long; staminodes 4, inserted on the corolla-tube and alternating with the lobes, 2 mm. long, glabrous save for a single apical seta; ovary subglobose, 2.5 mm. long and wide, with 8 or 10 uniovulate locules; styles 4(-5), as long as the ovary, ascending, expanding towards apex, fleshy and stigmatic on inner surface. Male flowers (1-)3(-7), in lax cymes borne towards the base of the current year’ s shoot in the axils of fallen reduced leaves and the first-formed foliage leaves; peduncle ± 6 mm. long; pedicels 1-3 mm. long, fulvous-tomentellous; calyx 2.5 mm. long, strigulose-tomentellous outside, glabrous inside, 4-lobed to ± the middle, the lobes ± round; corolla subrotate, 7 mm. long, strigulose on mid-petaline lines but otherwise glabrous; corolla-tube 1.5 mm. long; corolla-lobes 4, ovate-ligulate; stamens 24-28, 4-5 mm. long; filaments 1-1.5 mm. long, glabrous, inserted singly or in pairs on the corolla-tube; anthers linear-lanceolate, apiculate, glabrous or strigulose; rudimentary ovary 1 mm. long and wide, sparsely setulose.
sex Female
Female flowers solitary, borne as in male; pedicel 4 mm. long; calyx 6 mm. long, more deeply lobed than in male, the lobes markedly inbricate; corolla greenish, 7-8.5 mm. long; staminodes 4, inserted on the corolla-tube and alternating with the lobes, 2 mm. long, glabrous save for a single apical seta; ovary subglobose, 2.5 mm. long and wide, with 8 or 10 uniovulate locules; styles 4(-5), as long as the ovary, ascending, expanding towards apex, fleshy and stigmatic on inner surface.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit dark yellow, subglobose, ± 2 cm. diameter, glabrous, with calyx slightly accrescent ± 1.2 cm. long, the lobes 8 mm. long, 6 mm. wide, reflexed, with conspicuous ± flabellate longitudinal veins.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 8-10 or sometimes fewer by abortion, often only 1 developing, dark brown, segmentoid, 1.2 cm. long, 6 mm. wide, 5 mm. thick, with wrinkled surface; endosperm ruminate.
Figures
Fig. 2/7; fig. 5/1-2.
Habitat
Commiphora-Cordyla, Combretum, Acacia-Commiphora-Adansonia, etc. woodland and bushland on stony slopes and hillsides, also lowland forest and thicket on old coral reef; 0-1350 m.
Distribution
K7 T3 T5 T6 T8
[FTEA]

Ebenaceae, F. White. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology General Habit
Small deciduous tree 3–9 m. high, sometimes flowering as a shrub c. 2 m. high.
Morphology General Bark
Bark grey or brown, with close and shallow longitudinal fissures.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves subcoriaceous, drying pale brown with pale yellow nerves above and beneath; lamina 5·5 x 3–11 x 6·5 cm., obovate; apex shortly cuspidate; lower surface densely setulose on midrib, sparsely so elsewhere; secondary nerves in 6–9 pairs, prominent beneath, tertiary nerves subscalariform, venation closely reticulate, slightly prominent above, more so beneath.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 0·25 cm. long, strigulose–tomentellous outside, glabrous inside, 4–lobed to about the middle; lobes suborbicular. Calyx as in male but 0·6 cm. long and more deeply–lobed; lobes markedly imbricate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 24–28, 0·4–0·5 cm. long; filaments 0·1–0·15 cm. long, glabrous, inserted singly or in pairs on corolla–tube; anthers linear–lanceolate, apiculate, glabrous or strigulose.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistillodes
Pistillode 0·1 x 0·1 cm., sparsely setulose.
sex Male
Pistillode 0·1 x 0·1 cm., sparsely setulose. Corolla 0·7 cm. long, subrotate, strigulose on mid–petaline lines, otherwise glabrous; tube 0·15 cm. long; lobes 4, ovate–lingulate. Stamens 24–28, 0·4–0·5 cm. long; filaments 0·1–0·15 cm. long, glabrous, inserted singly or in pairs on corolla–tube; anthers linear–lanceolate, apiculate, glabrous or strigulose. Male flowers in (1) 3(7)–flowered lax cymules borne towards the base of the current year’s shoot in the axils of caducous reduced leaves and the first–formed foliage leaves; peduncle c. 0·6 cm. long; pedicels 0·1–0·3 cm. long, fulvous–tomentellous. Calyx 0·25 cm. long, strigulose–tomentellous outside, glabrous inside, 4–lobed to about the middle; lobes suborbicular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Female flowers solitary, borne as in male; pedicel 0·4 cm. long. Male flowers in (1) 3(7)–flowered lax cymules borne towards the base of the current year’s shoot in the axils of caducous reduced leaves and the first–formed foliage leaves; peduncle c. 0·6 cm. long; pedicels 0·1–0·3 cm. long, fulvous–tomentellous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla as in male but 0·7–0·85 cm. long. Corolla 0·7 cm. long, subrotate, strigulose on mid–petaline lines, otherwise glabrous; tube 0·15 cm. long; lobes 4, ovate–lingulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes
Staminodes 4, inserted on corolla–tube and alternating with the lobes, 0·2 cm. long, completely glabrous except for a single apical seta.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 0·25 x 0·25 cm., subglobose; locules 8 or 10, uniovulate; styles 4(5), as long as ovary, ascending, expanded distally, fleshy and stigmatic on inner surface.
sex Female
Ovary 0·25 x 0·25 cm., subglobose; locules 8 or 10, uniovulate; styles 4(5), as long as ovary, ascending, expanded distally, fleshy and stigmatic on inner surface. Corolla as in male but 0·7–0·85 cm. long. Staminodes 4, inserted on corolla–tube and alternating with the lobes, 0·2 cm. long, completely glabrous except for a single apical seta. Female flowers solitary, borne as in male; pedicel 0·4 cm. long. Calyx as in male but 0·6 cm. long and more deeply–lobed; lobes markedly imbricate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 8 or 10 or fewer by abortion, dark brown, 1·2 x 0·6 x 0·5 cm., surface wrinkled, endosperm ruminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruiting calyx slightly accrescent, c. 1·2 cm. long, lobes 0·8 x 0·6 cm., reflexed, with conspicuous, ± flabellate, longitudinal veins. Fruit c. 2 x 2 cm., subglobose, glabrous.
[FZ]

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

Morphology General Habit
Small deciduous tree or shrub 2–10 m tall
Morphology General Bark
Bark grey or brown, smooth or with close and shallow longitudinal fissures
Morphology General Shoots
Young shoots pale ferruginous pubescent
Morphology Leaves
Petiole 1.4–5 mm long, glabrescent; blade often red when young, drying pale green or brown with pale yellow nerves above and beneath, obovate, 5.5–12 x 3–6.5 cm, cuneate to truncate at the base, shortly cuspidate at the apex, somewhat leathery, lower surface densely setulose on the midrib, sparsely so elsewhere, very young leaves usually velvety on both surfaces and mature leaves sometimes entirely glabrous; lateral nerves in 6–9 pairs, prominent beneath, tertiary nerves ± ladder-like, with the venation closely reticulate, prominent above and more so beneath
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Male flowers (1–)3(–7), in lax cymes borne towards the base of the current year's shoot in the axils of fallen reduced leaves and the first-formed foliage leaves; peduncle c. 6 mm long; pedicels 1–3 mm long, fulvous-tomentellous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Calyx c. 2.5 mm long, strigulose-tomentellous outside, glabrous inside, 4-lobed ± to the middle, the lobes rounded; corolla subrotate, c. 7 mm long, strigulose on midpetaline lines but otherwise glabrous; corolla-tube 1.5 mm long; corolla-lobes 4, ovate-ligulate; stamens 24–28, 4–5 mm long; filaments 1–1.5 mm long, glabrous, inserted singly or in pairs on the corolla-tube; anthers linear-lanceolate, apiculate, glabrous or strigulose; rudimentary ovary 1 x 1 mm, sparsely setulose Female flowers solitary, borne as in male; pedicel c. 4 mm. long; calyx c. 6 mm long, more deeply lobed than in male, the lobes markedly imbricate; corolla greenish, 7–8.5 mm long; staminodes 4, inserted on the corolla-tube and alternating with the lobes, c. 2 mm long, glabrous save for a single apical seta; ovary subglobose, c. 2.5 x 2.5 mm, 8–10-celled; styles 4(–5), as long as the ovary, ascending, expanding towards apex, fleshy and stigmatic on inner surface
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit dark yellow, subglobose, c. 2 cm in diam., glabrous, with calyx slightly enlarging, c. 1.2 cm long, the lobes c. 8 x 6 mm, reflexed, with conspicuous, flabellately arranged longitudinal veins
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 8–10 or sometimes fewer by abortion, often only 1 developing, dark brown, segmentoid, c. 1.2 x 0.6 x 0.5 cm, with wrinkled surface.
Distribution
S1, 3 Kenya, Tanzania and southwards to Zimbabwe.
Ecology
Altitude range 30–300 m.
[FSOM]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0