Brabejum stellatifolium

Almond-shaped leathery leaves and fruits of Brabejum stellatifolium

Stellatifolium ( confusingly also called Wild almond or bitter almond ) Brabejum is the only species of the genus Brabejum, sometimes misspelled Brabeium, from the family of the silver tree plants ( Proteaceae ). The genus name is derived from the Greek word for brabeion scepter and could refer to the inflorescence, but brabeion is also the word for a price in Delphi, when crowned with laurel, and could therefore also refer to the leathery leaves. The specific epithet stellatifolium refers to the star-shaped leaves on the branches. This species occurs in South Africa Fynbos at altitudes between 0 and 1000 meters before. This species is found only in the Capensis.

Description

The evergreen Brabejum stellatifolium usually grows as a large, cantilevered, much -stemmed shrub with plant height up to 5 meters or a tree with growth heights of up to 15 meters. The thick, smooth bark is light grayish - brown with attractive stripes and spots. The most star-shaped to sixth in whorls on the branches leaves are leathery. Young leaves are hairy rusty brown. The leaf margin is serrated irregular.

The racemose inflorescence is about 8 cm long. The sweet scented flowers are hermaphrodite about 5 mm long. The petals are white. There is only one stamen circle exists flowering period is in summer: December to January. The almond-shaped, densely covered with rust-colored to chocolate - brown hair fruits have a length of 45 mm and a diameter of 30 mm and are ( contain cyanogenic glycosides ) toxic. The fruits ripen in late summer to autumn: February to May. The distribution of the fruits takes place on the water surface floating.

More images

Whorls arranged leaves.

Inflorescences.

Habit, leaves and fruits.

Swell

• Description from www.plantzafrica
• Characteristics on protea.worldonline.