Heteropyxis natalensis

Heteropyxis natalensis is a shrub or small to medium-sized tree reaching heights from 4 m to 10 m (SA Tree List No. 455).

This is yet another tree with male and female flowers on separate trees. The very common flower shape in nature of style (female) and stamens (male) in the same flower is bisexual or hermaphroditic. Some plants have single sex flowers, but on the same plant; even in the same flowerhead, like some Euphorbia or Asteraceae species. Some species even have both single and dual sex flowers on the same plant.

Several South African trees (and other plants) are similar to H. natalensis in having the sexes represented on separate trees. In the flowers of the Heteropyxis genus the female flowers still have staminodes (rudimentary, sterile or abortive stamens, the male flower component) and the male ones have pistillodes (a sterile, vestigial pistil or female part remaining in a staminate or male flower).

Botany has much to do with plant reproductive equipment and process, a big theme in evolution of species.

The species distribution is in the northeast of South Africa in the provinces north of the Vaal River and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as some neighbouring countries.

The habitat is along rivers, in forest margins, bushveld and rocky slopes. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Wikipedia; Coates Palgrave, 2002; http://redlist.sanbi.org).