Casearia gladiiformis
Species of tree
Casearia gladiiformis | |
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Growth habit | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malpighiales |
Family: | Salicaceae |
Genus: | Casearia |
Species: | C. gladiiformis |
Binomial name | |
Casearia gladiiformis Mast. |
Casearia gladiiformis, the sword-leaf, is a small tree that occurs mostly in dry coastal forests of south-eastern Africa. It is distributed from the Eastern Cape to Malawi. It bears small inconspicuous flowers in spring. The seeds are released when the woody seed capsule splits open after drying out.
Gallery
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Casearia_gladiiformis%2C_loof%2C_KZN_NBT.jpg/260px-Casearia_gladiiformis%2C_loof%2C_KZN_NBT.jpg)
Close-up of the alternately arranged leaves
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Casearia_gladiiformis%2C_pressed_leaves.jpg/195px-Casearia_gladiiformis%2C_pressed_leaves.jpg)
Pressed leaves showing asymmetry
References
- Trees of Southern Africa, K C Palgrave, 1984 ISBN 0-86977-081-0
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