Casearia gladiiformis

Sword-leaf
Growth habit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Salicaceae
Genus: Casearia
Species: C. gladiiformis
Binomial name
Casearia gladiiformis
Mast.

Casearia gladiiformis, the Sword-leaf, is a small tree that occurs mostly in dry coastal forests of south-eastern Africa. It is distributed from the Eastern Cape to Malawi. It bears small inconspicuous flowers in spring. The seeds are released when the woody seed capsule splits open after drying out.

Gallery

Close-up of the alternately arranged leaves
Pressed leaves showing asymmetry

References