Ochna pulchra Hook.
subsp. pulchra

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Ochna pulchra subsp. pulchra

Photo: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam, Harare

Ochna pulchra subsp. pulchra

Photo: Bart Wursten
Chinotimba, Victoria Falls

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Ochna antunesii Engl. & Gilg
Common names: Mermaid tree (English) Peeling-bark ochna (English)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Small deciduous tree. Bark very distinctive, rough and scale-like on the lower stem, flaking and smooth higher up (hence giving rise to the name of Mermaid tree). Leaves elliptic to oblanceolate, appearing entire but usually indistinctly toothed near the apex. Flowers pale yellow, very short-lived. Fruit 1-3 small kidney-shaped drupes, surrounded by the pink to red, elongated, persistent calyx.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: pulchra: beautiful
Habitat:
Flowering time:Aug - Nov
Worldwide distribution:
Botswana distribution: N,SE
Growth form(s): Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 607. As Ochna pulchra (Includes a picture).

Coates Palgrave, K. et al. (1956). Trees of Central Africa National Publications Trust, Salisbury. Pages 298 - 301. (Includes a picture).

Coates Palgrave, M. (1989). Guide to the trees and shrubs of the Mukuvisi Woodlands ?publisher. Page 11. as Ochna pulchra

Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Pages 460 - 461. (Includes a picture).

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 260.

Drummond, R.B. (1981). Common Trees of the Central Watershed Woodlands of Zimbabwe. Natural Resources Board, Harare. Pages 144 - 145. (Includes a picture).

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1967). The influence of copper content of the soil on trees and shrubs of Molly South Hill, Mangula Kirkia 6(1) Pages 63 - 84. As Ochna pulchra

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 64.

Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 86. (Includes a picture).

Robson, N.K.B. (1963). Ochnaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 228 - 229.

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 90.

Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 50. as Ochna antunesii

Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 220. as Ochna pulchra

Other sources of information about Ochna pulchra subsp. pulchra:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Ochna pulchra subsp. pulchra
Flora of the DRC: Ochna pulchra subsp. pulchra
Flora of Mozambique: Ochna pulchra subsp. pulchra
Flora of Zambia: Ochna pulchra subsp. pulchra
Flora of Zimbabwe: Ochna pulchra subsp. pulchra

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Botswana: Species information: Ochna pulchra subsp. pulchra.
https://www.botswanaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=140280, retrieved 30 October 2024

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