Botanical name

Cassine peragua subsp. peragua SA Tree no: 414

Family

Celastraceae

Common Name

Forest Spoonwood, Boslepelhout, uMbovane
Cassine peragua subsp. peragua SA Tree no: 414
Cassine peragua subsp. peragua SA Tree no: 414
Cassine peragua subsp. peragua SA Tree no: 414

Description

Evergreen shrub or tree up to 5m in coastal scrub, up to 3m; bark often with yellow pigments, finely vertically fissured with horizontal cracks forming square flakes. Leaves are opposite, elliptic to circular, 70-100mm long, leathery, shiny dark green above, irregularly toothed margins, venation distinct; leaves may often have a black fungal covering. Small scented white flowers are in branched clusters in leaf axils.

Fruit about 5mm in diameter, fleshy when mature, green to purplish-black, much loved by birds.

Leaves are toxic.

The species name 'peragua' (Paraguay) was incorrectly used by Carl Linnaeus.

Habitat

Coastal scrub, forest margins on mountain slopes

Flower Date

February to July