Cladostemon

Cladostemon kirkii (klados - a branch, stemon - a stamen), commonly known as the three-finger bush, is a small deciduous tree belonging to the Capparaceae or caper family. It is a genus that has only this one species (monotypic). It is distributed through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal in Southern Africa.

Three-finger bush
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Capparaceae
Genus: Cladostemon
A.Br. & Vatke
Species:
C. kirkii
Binomial name
Cladostemon kirkii
(Oliv.) Pax & Gilg

The species is named after Sir John Kirk (1832-1922), David Livingstone's companion on his Zambezi expedition of 1858 and the first European collector of the plant near Tete in Mozambique.[1]

Description

Cladostemon kirki has leaves that are trifoliolate with obovate leaflets that are glabrous with a thin texture and a common petiole up to 200 mm long. Twigs and branches are flexible and herbaceous.

The fragrant inflorescences are terminal or axillary, greenish at first, then white with pink venation, and finally turn yellow with age. The individual flowers are asymmetric, the two upper petals being much larger than the lower. The 15 cm long stamens are fused for most of their length, forming an androphore.

The large pendulous fruits are gourd-shaped, have a leathery texture and are up to 12 cm in diameter, hang from long, thick, sharply bent, jointed stalks, and give off an odour repulsive to humans on being picked.

Large pendulous fruit

Distribution

This tree is found in bushveld and sand forest, in open woodland and scrub, preferring sandy soils in hot areas. The animals pollinating this species' flowers are as yet unknown, while the large size of the fruit suggests eating and dispersal by a large animal such as elephant, rhino or buffalo.[2]

Flora of Malawi, illustrates the species well and images may be seen here.

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See also

References
  1. "Flora of Mozambique: Species information: individual images: Cladostemon kirkii". www.mozambiqueflora.com. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  2. "Cladostemon kirkii | PlantZAfrica.com". www.plantzafrica.com. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
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