Triaspis glaucophylla

Triaspis glaucophylla, commonly the blue shieldfruit and previously scientifically T. leendertziae, is a somewhat climbing shrub reaching heights around 2 m, occasionally 5 m. This must be one of only few shrubs reaching 5 m in height that does not have a number in the SA Tree List.

The smooth stems are reddish brown to purple and sometimes hairy.

The flowers in picture are long-stalked. The small, green, pointed sepal lobes clutch the backs of the buds and remain erect in the open flowers, bypassing the clawed petal bases and shielding the superior ovary.

The species is a South African endemic from the north of the northerly provinces Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga. The photo was taken in Sekhukhuneland.

The habitat is mainly bushveld and wooded grassland, often among rocks. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Schmidt, et al, 2002; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Letty, 1962; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).