Chionanthus battiscombei (Hutch.) Stearn

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Photo: Mark Hyde
By carpark, National Botanic Gardens

Photo: Mark Hyde
National Botanic Gardens

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Synonyms:	Dekindtia africana Gilg Linociera battiscombei Hutch.
Common names:	Small-fruited ironwood (English) Water pock-ironwood (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small tree. Leaves opposite, lanceolate, elliptic, ovate to obovate, hairless, shiny above, duller beneath; domatia present; margin slightly thickened; petiole 3-7 mm long. Inflorescence consisting of sessile axillary clusters of sweetly scented flowers. Calyx 2.5-3.5 mm long, campanulate with 4 lobes in slightly unequal pairs. Corolla white or pale yellow with 4 lobes almost free to the base; lobes hooded at the apex. Fruit c. 1.5 cm long, an ellipsoid drupe, purple-black when ripe.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	battiscombei: after Edward Battiscombe (1874-1971), botanical author, plant collector in Kenya and Tanzania and Conservator of Forests for the British East African Protectorate.
Habitat:	In evergreen forest
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa
Malawi distribution:	N,C,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Tuesday 11 December 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 219. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 766. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 13. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 20. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 267. As Linociera battiscombei Kupicha, F.K. (1983). Oleaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(1) Pages 320 - 322. (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 65. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 129.

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Flora of Mozambique: Chionanthus battiscombei
Flora of Zambia: Chionanthus battiscombei
Flora of Zimbabwe: Chionanthus battiscombei

External websites:

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