''Ekebergia capensis'' is a tree in the family
Meliaceae
Meliaceae, the mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs (and a few herbaceous plants, mangroves) in the order Sapindales.
They are characterised by alternate, usually pinnate leaves without stipules, and by syncarp ...
. It is commonly known as the Cape ash. Its range extends from the
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha.
The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
of
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
to
Sudan
Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...
and
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
. It has been introduced onto
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island, 7°56′ south of the Equator in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is about from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America. It is governed as part of the British Overseas Territory o ...
.
Description
Tree up to 30 meters tall which can be evergreen or semi-evergreen. Can be up to 1 meter diameter at breast height and may be slightly buttressed or fluted at the base branchlets with white lenticels. Leaves imparipinnate, with petiole and rhachis up to 35 cm long. Leaflets opposite or subopposite. Flowers white or pinkish white, sweet-scented. Borne in cymose panicles. Fruits are Drupes.
Habitat
Seasonally dry tropical biome,
often in edge environments of montane, mid-altitude or riparian forest. Can also be found in woodland and wooded grassland. Altitude between 600–2650 m.
Gallery
Image:Ekebergia_capensis_flowers_and_stem.JPG, Flowers and stem of ''Ekebergia capensis''
Image:Ekebergia_capensis_stem.jpg, Stem of large ''Ekebergia capensis''
Image:Ekebergia_capensis_flowers_and_fruit.JPG, Flowers and fruit
Image:Ekebergia_capensis_leaf_and_fruit.JPG, Compound leaf and fruit
Image:Ekebergia_capensis_leaves_fruit.JPG, Leaves and fruit
References
* Pooley, E. (1993). ''The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei''. .
External links
PlantZAfrica.comFernkloof Nature ReserveImages on iSpot
Meliaceae
{{Meliaceae-stub