Bersama abyssinica
| Winged Bersama | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Geraniales |
| Family: | Melianthaceae |
| Genus: | Bersama |
| Species: | B. abyssinica |
| Binomial name | |
| Bersama abyssinica Fresen. | |
 | |
| Countries of occurrence | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Bersama abyssinica is a species of medium-sized evergreen tree in the Melianthaceae family. The leaves are pinnately divided with a strongly winged rachis (hence the common name Winged Bersama).[1] The inflorescence is a spike.
This species is distributed across sub-Saharan Africa and includes two subspecies:[2]
- B. abyssinica Fresen. subsp. abyssinica Fresen.
- B. abyssinica Fresen. subsp. rosea (Hoyle) Mikkelsen[3]
The subspecies rosea is endemic to Tanzania, where it is considered vulnerable.[4]
Bersama abyssinica produces a hard, heavy wood that is used in the construction of houses in West Africa.[5]
References
- ↑ "Bersama abyssinica Fresen.". Flora of Zimbabwe. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ↑ "Bersama abyssinica Fresen. subsp. abyssinica Fresen. [family MELIANTHACEAE]". Aluka. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ↑ Mikkelsen, K. S.; O. Seberg (2001). "Morphometric analysis of the Bersama abyssinica Fresen. complex (Melianthaceae) in East Africa". Plant Systematics and Evolution 227 (3-4): 157–182. doi:10.1007/s006060170046.
- ↑ Lovett, J. & Clarke, G.P. (1998) Bersama rosea. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 20 August 2007.
- ↑ Heywood, V. H. (ed.) (1993). Flowering Plants of the World (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 191–192.
External links
- Images from the Flora of Zimbabwe
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). [http://www.africanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?submitForm=true&page_id=77&searchTextMenue=Bersama+abyssinica&filterRegionIDs[]=6&filterRegionIDs[]=1&filterRegionIDs[]=2&filterRegionIDs[]=3&filterRegionIDs[]=5 "Bersama abyssinica"]. African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.