Citharexylum spinosum L.

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Photo: Mark Hyde
Garden, Harry Pichanick Dr., Harare

Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle

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Synonyms:	Citharexylum fruticosum L. Citharexylum quadrangulare Jacq.
Common names:	Fiddlewood (English) Lady chancellor tree (English)
Frequency:	Rare
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Unarmed (despite the specific name), dioecious, shrub or tree to 15 m. Leaves opposite; petiole characteristically reddish-brown; lamina elliptic, glossy above; apex acute; base cuneate; lamina typically dull orange-brown in winter (Jun to Aug). Flowers white. Fruit spherical, 7-10 mm in diameter red to black.
Notes:	This species is included as a naturalised species on the strength of two specimens found in mainly exotic woodland in Mandara, Harare. We have followed Méndez, I. (2001) in treating C. fruticosum as a synonym of C. spinosum. This is supported by The Plantlist (2013), Version 1.1. However, it should be noted that in FZ 8(7), p. 7, only Citharexylum fruticosum is named as a cultivated species occurring in the FZ area
Derivation of specific name:	spinosum: spiny (a misnomer in this case).
Habitat:	Very commonly cultivated in gardens; male trees are much more commonly planted than female trees. Rarely naturalised in woodland.
Altitude range: (metres)	1520 m
Flowering time:	Dec-Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Native to the Caribbean and northern South America.
Zimbabwe distribution:	C
Growth form(s):	Tree.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Sunday 24 August 2008
Literature:	Fernandes, R. (2005). Verbenaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(7) Page 7. As Citharexylum fruticosum

Other sources of information about Citharexylum spinosum:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Citharexylum spinosum
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Citharexylum spinosum

External websites:

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