Sesamothamnus lugardii
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sesamothamnus lugardii | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Pedaliaceae |
| Genus: | Sesamothamnus |
| Species: | S. lugardii |
| Binomial name | |
| Sesamothamnus lugardii | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Sesamothamnus lugardii, commonly known as the Transvaal sesame-bush, sesame-bush, or sesambos, is a species of plant in the family Pedaliaceae. It is a succulent, spiny shrub or small tree native to southern Africa.[3] Local common names include tshinonzhe in the Venda language.[4]
The species was first described in 1906 by N. E. Brown and Otto Stapf in the Flora of Tropical Africa.[5] The specific epithet lugardii honors Major Edward James Lugard (1865–1957), a British-born plant collector who extensively collected plants in Botswana.[3] A later name, Sesamothamnus seineri published by Adolf Engler in 1910, is considered a nomen nudum and a synonym of S. lugardii.[6][7]
Description
Sesamothamnus lugardii is a multi-stemmed, succulent, spiny shrub or small tree that grows up to 4 m (13 ft) tall.[8] The trunk is characteristically swollen at the base, reaching up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in diameter, and tapers into thick, ascending branches reminiscent of a baobab.[8] The bark is described as dark yellowish-green, papery in texture.[8]
Leaves are obovate (egg-shaped with the narrower end at the base), occurring in two forms: alternate and petiolate on long shoots, or sessile and clustered (fasciculate) on short shoots. The leaves fold upward along the midrib, are green above and paler below, with both surfaces covered in short, greyish hairs.[3]
The flowers are large and showy, solitary in the leaf axils. They are trumpet-shaped with a long, curved corolla tube measuring approximately 10 cm (3.9 in) in length, and possess a spur at the base.[9] The flowers are white, pink, or cream-colored, often with a purplish tinge on the exterior.[8] Flowering occurs from September to December.[3]
The fruit is a flattened, woody capsule, notched at the base, containing winged seeds.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Sesamothamnus lugardii is native to southern Africa. Its range includes southern Zimbabwe, eastern Botswana, the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West provinces of South Africa.[4] While earlier sources sometimes included Namibia, modern taxonomic treatments limit its range to Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa.[1] It is not endemic to South Africa.[4]
The species grows in hot, dry areas, often occurring alone or in scattered, small groups. It is found in a variety of habitats, including alluvial plains, Kalahari sand, rocky soils, and areas with hard loamy soil. Associated plant species include Commiphora, Catophractes alexandri, Acacia tortilis, Acacia senegal, Balanites, Salvadora australis, and Mundulea sericea.[8][10]
