Cliffortia nitidula (Engl.) R.E. & T.C.E. Fr.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Dam 2, Southern Loop, Nyika National Park

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Synonyms:	Cliffortia linearifolia Eckl. & Zeyh. var. nitidula Engl.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Much-branched ericoid shrub up to c. 2m tall. Leaves 3-foliolate, clustered on short lateral shoots; leaflets up to 9 mm long, stiff, shiny, hairless, with a reddish apical tip, oblanceolate but appearing linear as the margins are distinctly rolled under almost hiding the midrib. Flowers solitary, axillary, unisexual, yellowish; petals absent.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	nitidula: somewhat shiny
Habitat:	Along streambanks and margins of forest and ericoid scrub, often on rocky slopes
Altitude range:	Above 1750 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Malawi distribution:	N,S
Growth form(s):	Shrub under 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 27 September 2018
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 237. (Includes a picture). Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Pages 248 - 249. Three species dealt with together. Distributions of C. nitidula and C. linearifolia have appear to have been mixed up. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 99. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 239. Graham, R.A. (1960). Rosaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 41 - 42. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 71. Mendes, E.J. (1978). Rosaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 25 - 27. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 86. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 159. White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of Malawi Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Page 451. in synonym with C. linearifolia Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 98.

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Flora of Burundi: Cliffortia nitidula
Flora of Mozambique: Cliffortia nitidula
Flora of Zambia: Cliffortia nitidula
Flora of Zimbabwe: Cliffortia nitidula

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Cliffortia nitidula
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Cliffortia nitidula
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Cliffortia nitidula
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Cliffortia nitidula
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Cliffortia nitidula
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Cliffortia nitidula
JSTOR Plant Science: Cliffortia nitidula
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Cliffortia nitidula
Plants of the World Online: Cliffortia nitidula
Tropicos: Cliffortia nitidula
Wikipedia: Cliffortia nitidula