Drypetes natalensis (Harv.) Hutch.

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

Euphorbiaceae, A. R.-Smith. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1987

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree commonly up to 9 m., rarely up to 12 m.

Morphology General Bark

Bark smooth to rough, dark grey.

Morphology Twigs

Twigs green at first, becoming greyish.

Morphology General Shoots

Young shoots and petioles thinly pubescent at first, soon glabrescent.

Morphology General Buds

Buds minutely perulate.

Morphology Leaves

Petioles 4–8 mm. long, channelled above; leaf-blade elliptic-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, (7–)12–20(–27) cm. long, (2–)3–7(–10) cm. wide, obtusely shortly acuminate, asymmetrically cuneate-rounded, sharply to shallowly serrate or subentire, coriaceous, shiny above, lateral nerves 7–10 pairs, looped well within the margin, and often with a second series of loops towards the margin, tertiary nerves reticulate, all nerves more prominent beneath than above, quite glabrous above and beneath, deep green above, pale green beneath.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules linear to linear-lanceolate, 1–1.5(–2) mm. long, sparingly to evenly pubescent, soon deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers fasciculate on bosses on the older branches or the trunk, evil-smelling. Male flowers:pedicels (2–)4–8 mm. long, glabrous; sepals orbicular, 4–4.5 mm. long, 4 mm. wide, glabrous, minutely ciliolate, white, cream-coloured or pink-tinged; stamens (18–)20–25(–30), in 2 peripheral whorls, 5–6 mm. long, anthers 1.5–2 mm. long; disc with a somewhat crisped-convolute margin, the lobes partially enveloping the filaments, ± radially sulcate, but with no central projection, glabrous. Female flowers:pedicels and sepals as in the ♂; disc fleshy, crenulate, glabrous; ovary 2–3-locular, subglobose, 2.5 mm. long, 3 mm. wide, tomentose or glabrous; styles 2–3, persistent; stigmas subsessile, spreading, obcordate-spathulate, smooth, fleshy, yellow-cream.

sex Male

Male flowers:pedicels (2–)4–8 mm. long, glabrous; sepals orbicular, 4–4.5 mm. long, 4 mm. wide, glabrous, minutely ciliolate, white, cream-coloured or pink-tinged; stamens (18–)20–25(–30), in 2 peripheral whorls, 5–6 mm. long, anthers 1.5–2 mm. long; disc with a somewhat crisped-convolute margin, the lobes partially enveloping the filaments, ± radially sulcate, but with no central projection, glabrous.

sex Female

Female flowers:pedicels and sepals as in the ♂; disc fleshy, crenulate, glabrous; ovary 2–3-locular, subglobose, 2.5 mm. long, 3 mm. wide, tomentose or glabrous; styles 2–3, persistent; stigmas subsessile, spreading, obcordate-spathulate, smooth, fleshy, yellow-cream.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit subglobose, up to 2.7 cm. long and 3.3 cm. diameter, shallowly verrucose-rugulose or ± smooth, pubescent or glabrous, yellow, orange or brown when ripe.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ovoid, 1.9 cm. long, orange.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or tree to 9(–12) m tall; young shoots sparsely pubescent, soon glabrescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blade elliptic-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, (7–)12–20(–27) x (2–)3–7(–10) cm, obtusely shortly acuminate at the apex, asymmetrically cuneate-rounded at the base, sharply to shallowly serrate or subentire, leathery, with 7–10 pairs of lateral veins and reticulate tertiary veins, glabrous; petioles 4–8 mm long

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules 1–2 mm long, soon falling

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers fasciculate on bosses on the older branches or the trunk, bad-smelling

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers: sepals 4–4.5 mm long; stamens (18–)20–25(–30); disc partially enfolding the filaments Female flowers: stigmas obcordate-spatulate, spreading

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit subglobose, up to 2.7 x 3.3 cm, smooth or slightly rough.

Vernacular

Shabkayle (Somali)

Note

Var. natalensis with 2-celled, pubescent fruits, brown when ripe, is distributed in eastern Africa from S Sudan in the north to Natal in the south.