Sclerocroton integerrimus
Species of tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sclerocroton integerrimus, the duiker berry, is a tree in the family Euphorbiaceae.[2][3] It is from Southern Africa.
| Duiker berry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Branchlets and foliage | |
 | |
| fruit (duiker berries) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Sclerocroton |
| Species: | S. integerrimus |
| Binomial name | |
| Sclerocroton integerrimus | |
| Synonyms[2][4] | |
| |
Taxonomy
This species was originally named as two species; Sclerocroton integerrimus Hochst. (1845) and S. reticulatus Hochst. (1845). When Sclerocroton integerrimus was united for the first time, Baillon (in Adansonia 3: 162. 1863) adopted the name Stillingia integerrima (Hochst.) Baill. for the combined taxon.[5]
This tree has also been named Sapium integerrimum; with most literature referring to it by this name (2010).
Distribution
Found from the coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to Mozambique and Botswana.[6]
Description
A small to medium-sized tree growing up to 15m tall.[6]
Stem and branches
Single or multi-stemmed, with smooth pale grey bark, and arching, weeping branches.[6] The branchlets are reddish-brown, later becoming grey-brown in colour.[4]
Leaves
The leaves are alternate, shiny and dark-green above, and paler beneath.[6] The leaves are ovate-lanceolate to ovate-oblong in shape, with entire or shallowly serrated leaf margins. The leaf petioles are 3–5 mm long, and the leaf blades 20–100 mm long and 10–50 mm wide.[4]
Flowers
Small yellowish flowers are produced on terminal spikes.[6] The flowers are either all male or with one female flower at the base of the spike.[4]
Fruit
The fruit is a 3-lobed capsule up to 25 mm in diameter.[6] The fruit opens by splitting into three roughly circular parts, with each of the 6 valves bearing a shortly-conical appendage (horn[6]) 2 mm long.[4] When ripe; the fruit are green or coppery in colour, and leathery in texture.[6] Each of the cocci bears one seed enclosed in a 2 mm thick woody endocarp. The seeds are 7 × 5 mm in size, ovoid-ellipsoid in shape, smooth surfaced, and dull, pale greyish-brown flecked and spotted with darker brown.[4]
Wood
The wood is heavy, hard and durable.[7]
Uses
Ecological significance
This is one of the larval food plants for two species of butterfly; Sevenia boisduvali and Sevenia natalensis.[8] The leaves are also eaten by bushbuck[6] and red duiker.[9] The fruit are eaten by antelope, and birds[6] such as crowned hornbills.[10]