Protorhus longifolia

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Red beech
Protorhus longifolia KirstenboschBotGard09292010B.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Protorhus
Species:
P. longifolia
Binomial name
Protorhus longifolia
(Bernh. ex C.Krauss) Engl., 1881
Synonyms
  • Anaphrenium longifolium Bernh., 1844
  • Rhus longifolia (Bernh.) Sond.

Protorhus longifolia, the red beech, is a medium to large, mostly dioecious species of tree in the family Anacardiaceae. It is native to South Africa and Eswatini, where it occurs in well-watered situations from coastal elevations to 1,250 m.[1] The leafy, evergreen trees have rounded crowns and usually grow between 6 and 10 m tall, but regularly taller in forest.[1]

Range[]

In South Africa they occur from the Eastern Cape to Limpopo.[2] In Swaziland it is present in the western uplands, and in the Lebombo regions.[3] They occur in coastal, scarp and mistbelt forests, rock outcrops, escarpments, riparian fringes, or in woodland.[4]

Bole and branches[]

The bole is up to 1 m in diameter in forest. The bark of a young tree is smooth and brown, but becomes darker and rough with age.[4] The branches have a rough texture and retain leaf scars.[1] They exude a sticky milky sap when broken.[4]

Foliage[]

The trees often carry some strikingly yellow or red leaves, especially in winter[1] or on new growth. The simple leaves resemble Mango leaves, and have a scattered, alternate or subopposite arrangement.[4] They measure up to 15 by 3 cm,[1] and are paler below than above. They are glabrous and leathery in texture, and linear-oblong to narrowly elliptic in shape.[5] The leaf margins may be frilled or wavy and are tightly rolled under.[4][6]

The primary, lateral veins have a straight and parallel arrangement. They terminate on, and often fork near the leaf margin. There are up to 40 veins a side,[1] which are prominently raised below.[5] They are light in colour, contrasting with the dark, glossy upper surfaces.[7]

Flowers[]

The flowers are small (±4 mm in diameter) and are carried in axillary[1] or terminal panicles.[2] They are greenish-white (male)[3] or pink to red, and appear in early spring (August to October).[6] The ovary is ovoid and the calyx is saucer-shaped. The floral parts are in fives,[6] but female flowers have three styles.[3]

Fruit[]

The indehiscent fruit which appear from October to December, are smooth, fleshy drupes[5] that mature to a pale mauve colour[7] in autumn.[1] Each contains a single seed.[5] (cf. Ozoroa)

Species interactions and uses[]

Various forest mammals and birds feed on the fruit while on the tree, or after they are dropped, while the bark and foliage are browsed by Black rhino.[2]

The fine-grained wood has been used for furniture, planks[2][4] and fence posts,[8] but is not considered very durable.[6] The ground up bark, though somewhat poisonous, is used as "red" muti (Zulu: uMuthi-embomvu).[4] The sticky milky sap has been used a glue, for instance to fix assegai blades to their handles, or as a depilatory.[6]

The species can be cultivated from fresh seed and does well in gardens. They are useful as specimen trees or screening plants,[7] and grow relatively fast, up to 80 cm a year.[2] Though it thrives in warm, moist regions, it is also tolerant of drought and slight frost.[7]

Gallery[]

  • Old bark texture
  • Young foliage
  • Habit in forest

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Palmer, Eve (1977). A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa. London, Johannesburg: Collins. pp. 282–284. ISBN 0-620-05468-9.
  2. ^ a b c d e Pooley, Elsa (2006). Forest plants in the forest and in the garden. Pinetown: The flora publications trust. p. 47. ISBN 0-620-37012-2.
  3. ^ a b c "Protorhus longifolia (Bernh.) Engl". Swaziland's Flora Database. SNTC. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Pooley, Elsa (1997). Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. Durban: Natal Flora Publications Trust. p. 244. ISBN 0-620-17697-0.
  5. ^ a b c d Van Wyk, Braam; et al. (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 87. ISBN 1-86825-922-6.
  6. ^ a b c d e Palgrave, Keith Coates (1984). Trees of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 463. ISBN 0-86977-081-0.
  7. ^ a b c d "Protorhus longifolia". Trees. Witbos indigenous nursery. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  8. ^ Immelman, W. F. E.; et al. (1973). Ons Groen Erfenis/Our Green Heritage. Cape Town, Johannesburg: Tafelberg. p. 51. ISBN 00-624-00371.
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