Family:
Olacaceae Juss. ex R.Br.
Genus:
Olax L.

Olax obtusifolia De Wild.

This species is accepted, and its native range is Tanzania to S. Tropical Africa.

[FTEA]

Olacaceae, G. Ll. Lucas. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit
Trees or shrubs up to 15 m. high; young branches deep green when young, rusty-brown and ± channelled when mature.
Morphology Leaves
Petiole 1–3 mm. long; leaf-blade glabrous, grey-green above at maturity, ovate-lanceolate, 4–9 cm. long, 2–4 cm. wide, rounded to subacute at apex, cuneate to rounded at the base; midrib prominent beneath, ± conspicuous above; secondary veins (6–)7–10 pairs, slightly raised beneath.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of single or fasciculate racemes up to 3 cm. long; bracts small, oblanceolate, caducous, rarely foliaceous; pedicels 1–2.5 mm. long; buds clavate, up to 9 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers white, cream or greenish.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx cupuliform, accrescent, 1.5–2 mm. in diameter.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 3, spathulate, 7–11 mm. long, ± recurved at maturity.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Fertile stamens 3; filaments adnate to petals; anthers 1.5–2.5 mm. long, yellow.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes
Staminodes 5–6; anthers elongate, 2–3 mm. long, white, bifurcate at base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary conical; style up to 5 mm. long; stigma capitate, 3-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a globose drupe, 1–2.5 cm. in diameter, orange when ripe; accrescent calyx up to 5 mm. in diameter.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed woody, large, ± 1 cm. in diameter.
Figures
Fig. 3/1–4, p. 8.
Habitat
Rain-forest and dry evergreen forest; 900–1500 m.
Distribution
T3 T6 T7 T8

[FZ]

Olacaceae, J. G. Garcia. Flora Zambesiaca 2:1. 1963

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 3, 7–10 mm. long, spathulate, apiculate inside at the top, yellowish or greenish-white.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
Stamens 3; anthers 1·5–2·5 mm. long, yellow; staminodes 5–6; anther-thecae 2–3 mm. long, undulate, white.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary gradually attenuate upwards; style 2–4 mm. long, capitate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit up to 2–5 cm. in diam., globose, drupaceous, yellow-orange, with a very large stone.
Morphology General Habit
Shrub or small tree up to 6 m. tall.
Morphology General Shoots
Young shoots rust colour, rugulose; bark later exfoliating.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves very shortly stalked; lamina 4–8 × 2–4 cm., ovate-lanceolate, blunt or subacute at the apex, rounded or obtuse at the base, dull, light green, chartaceous; midrib somewhat conspicuous above, prominent below; lateral nerves 6–10 pairs, very slightly raised on both surfaces; petiole up to 1 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in solitary or fasciculate racemes 1–3 cm. long; bracts shorter than the 1–2 mm. long pedicels, rarely longer, sometimes foliaceous, caducous; buds broadly clavate, 6–9 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx short, cupuliform, accrescent.

Native to:

Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Olax obtusifolia De Wild. appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Brenan, J.P.M. [8361], Tanzania 26144.000 No
Timberlake, J. [s.n.], Malawi K000614738 No

First published in Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot., sér. 4, 1: 177 (1903)

Accepted by

  • Exell, A.W., Fernandes, A. & Wild, H. (eds.) (1963). Flora Zambesiaca 2(1): 1-351. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lucas, G.L. (1968). Flora of Tropical East Africa, Olacaceae: 1-15.
  • Robyns, W. & al. (eds.) (1948-1963). Flore du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi 1-10.
  • Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Alves, T., Francisco, J., Harris, T., Nangoma, D. & de Sousa, C. (2009). Biodiversity and Conservation of Mchese Mountain, Malawi. Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036: 1-71. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Literature

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Exell, A.W., Fernandes, A. & Wild, H. (eds.) (1963). Flora Zambesiaca 2(1): 1-351. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lucas, G.L. (1968). Flora of Tropical East Africa, Olacaceae: 1-15.
  • Robyns, W. & al. (eds.) (1948-1963). Flore du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi 1-10.
  • Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Alves, T., Francisco, J., Harris, T., Nangoma, D. & de Sousa, C. (2009). Biodiversity and Conservation of Mchese Mountain, Malawi. Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036: 1-71. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • De Wild. in Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot. Sér. 4, 1: 177, t. 40/6–11 (1903).
  • F. White, Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia p. 42 (1962).
  • Garcia in Flora Zambesiaca 2: 332 (1963).
  • Louis & J. Léon, in Flore du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi, 1: 261 (1948).

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    Flora Zambesiaca
    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

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0