''Loxostylis'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s belonging to the family

Anacardiaceae The Anacardiaceae, commonly known as the cashew family or sumac family, are a family of flowering plants, including about 83 genera with about 860 known species. Members of the Anacardiaceae bear fruits that are drupes and in some cases produce ...

. The genus contains a single species called ''Loxostylis alata''. In English, this species goes by the

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...

tar wood. It has self supporting growth and is

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

. The IUCN lists the species as least concern due to it being a widespread species. But it’s being harmed in certain areas. Its native range is Southern Africa.

Name and etymology

''Loxostylis'' is derived from the Greek word ''loxos'' and the Latin ''stylis. Loxos'' means “crooked”, “oblique”, or “twisted” while ''stylis'' means “style”. While ''alatus'' is Latin for “winged”.

Occurrence

It is native to

Cape Provinces The Cape Provinces of South Africa is a biogeographical area used in the World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions (WGSRPD). It is part of the WGSRPD region 27 Southern Africa. The area has the code "CPP". It includes the Sout ...

and KwaZulu-Natal. ''Loxostylis alata'' is found along woodland edges, along rivers, and on the outcrops of quartz and sandstone.

Reproduction

It is

dioecious Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...

. In spring, male flowers are white and scented while the female flowers are green but the

sepals A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

turn red or pink.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q9024582, from2=Q13036171 Anacardiaceae Anacardiaceae genera Dioecious plants Monotypic Sapindales genera