Ochna atropurpurea DC.

Ochnaceae, B. Verdcourt, B.Sc., Ph.D. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Shrub, small tree or rhizomatous subshrub, 0.05–5(–9) m tall; bark pale grey or brown, smooth or rather rough and fissured; branches rather thick.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves coriaceous, obovate to oblanceolate or oblong, (3.5–)5.5–22.5 cm long, (1.5–)2–8.4 cm wide, obtuse to broadly rounded at the apex, less often subacute with a short mucro, cuneate to subtruncate at the base, margin densely serrulate; lateral veins 20–25, prominent on both surfaces; tertiary venation finely reticulate, more prominent above than beneath; petiole ± stout, 1.5–8 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers numerous in branched panicles terminating lateral shoots; pedicels 1.5–3 cm long, jointed 4–8 mm from base, the joints forming characteristic tufts when flowers have fallen.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 9–11(–12.5) mm long, 5–8 mm wide, rounded at apex, becoming scarlet-red and slightly enlarging to 12–14 mm long in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals bright yellow, obovate or almost round, 10–22 mm long, 7–19 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Anthers orange-yellow, 4–7 mm long, 3–5 times as long as the filaments, dehiscing by apical pores.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Carpels (6–)8–10; styles united almost to apex, the free ends spreading; stigmas slightly enlarged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Drupelets black, subglobose or ovoid-cylindric, 8–10 mm long, 6–8 mm wide, inserted near the base.

Habitat

Various mixed thicket and bushland e.g. Commiphora – Cassia, Acacia – Commiphora – Dichrostachys – Hibiscus; evergreen forest of Combretum schumannii, Trachylobium, Afzelia, Dichrostachys, Brachystegia, Cynometra etc., sometimes on cliffs within spray zone of high tide and on shore just above high water mark; 0–450 m

Distribution

K1 K7 T3 T6 T8 Z

Ochnaceae, N. K. B. Robson. Flora Zambesiaca 2:1. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Bushy shrub or small tree up to 3 (5) m. high or sometimes a rhizomatous shrublet c. 5–40 cm. high, evergreen, frequently galled, with bark rather rough, whitish-brown; branches rather stout, ± ascending, greenish-brown and flattened, without visible lenticels at first, becoming greyish-white and then greyish-purple and terete.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate; lamina (5·5) 7–22·6 × (2) 3·4–7·8 (8·4) cm., obovate to oblanceolate or rarely oblong, obtuse to rounded (very rarely acute or acuminate) and sometimes shortly mucronate at the apex, with margin densely serrulate, cuneate (rarely truncate) at the base, coriaceous, with main and subsidiary lateral nerves almost equally prominent and densely reticulate tertiary venation more prominent above than below; petiole 1·5–8 mm. long, usually ± stout, sometimes swollen.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers ? in ± laxly branched panicles, terminating short lateral shoots; pedicels 1·5–3 cm. long in fruit, articulated about 1/4 the distance from the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 9–11 (12·5) mm. long in flower, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, rounded, becoming red, 12–14 mm. long, flat, and spreading in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals bright yellow, sometimes dark-veined, 10–17 (22) × 7–13 (19) mm., obovate or subcircular and shortly unguiculate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with anthers 4–7 mm. long, 3–5 times as long as the filaments, straight, dehiscing by apical pores.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels (6) 8–10, with styles united almost to the apex with free ends spreading radially; stigmas slightly enlarged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Drupelets 8–9 (10) × 6–8 mm., subglobose or flattened-ovoid-cylindric, inserted near the base; embryo straight.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/158076/759835

Conservation

LC - least concern