Embelia schimperi Vatke

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Chirinda Forest campsite.

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Synonyms:	Embelia abyssinica Baker Embelia bambuseti Gilg & Schellenb. Embelia batesii S. Moore Embelia dasyantha Gilg & Schellenb. Embelia gilgii Mez Embelia guineensis Baker Embelia kilimandscharica Gilg Embelia mujenja Gilg Embelia nyassana Gilg Embelia pellucida (Hiern) K. Schum. Embelia retusa Gilg Embelia tessmannii Gilg & Shellenb. Embelia tibatiensis Gilg & Schellenb. Pattara pellucida Hiern
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Climbing shrub or liane with long trailing branches, the climbing aided by short hardened lateral branchlets. Leaves spirally arranged, crowded at the ends of branches; lamina up to c. 6 cm long, very variable in shape, thinly fleshy, hairless; translucent streaks present in the lamina; apex rounded or notched; margin entire. Flowers in spikes on the old lateral shoots, greenish to yellowish, unisexual on the same plant, sometimes bisexual. Fruit somewhat depressed-spherical, c. 5 mm in diameter, scarlet when ripe.
Notes:	This species is very variable, particularly in leaf shape, and occurs widely in Africa. This explains the extensive synonymy. Easily recognised by the translucent streaks in the leaf lamina.
Derivation of specific name:	schimperi: named after Wilhelm Schimper, explorer and collector, particularly in Ethiopia.
Habitat:	On river banks and on termite hills in woodland.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa.
Growth form(s):	Climber, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 216. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 730. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 24. Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 23. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 265. Kupicha, F.K. (1983). Myrsinaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(1) Pages 206 - 208. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 64. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 80. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 60. as Embelia sp. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 126. White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of Malawi Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pages 405 - 406. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Embelia schimperi:

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Flora of Burundi: Embelia schimperi
Flora of Malawi: Embelia schimperi
Flora of Mozambique: Embelia schimperi
Flora of Zambia: Embelia schimperi
Flora of Zimbabwe: Embelia schimperi
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Embelia schimperi

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Embelia schimperi
African Plant Database: Embelia schimperi
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Embelia schimperi
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Embelia schimperi
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Embelia schimperi
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Embelia schimperi
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Embelia schimperi
JSTOR Plant Science: Embelia schimperi
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Embelia schimperi
Plants of the World Online: Embelia schimperi
Tropicos: Embelia schimperi
Wikipedia: Embelia schimperi