Olacaceae
Olax

Olax obtusifolia De Wild.

First published in Ann. Mus. Congo Belge, Bot., sér. 4, 1: 177 (1903)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tanzania to S. Tropical Africa. It is a shrub or tree and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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
[FTEA]

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]

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.
[FZ]

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 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.

  • 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