Xymalos monospora

Xymalos monospora, commonly known as lemonwood, is a medium to large tree reaching heights around 25 m (SA Tree List No. 111). This is a monotypic species, the only in its genus.

The Afrikaans common name of lemoenhout (orange wood), confirms the idea in the lemonwood name, although this tree is not of the citrus family. Lemonwood is part of the Monimiaceae or lemonwood family, while citrus forms part of Rutaceae. Crushing the leaves does, however, produce a typical citrus scent.

The bark is conspicuously marked, greyish brown with irregularly shaped worm-like patterns scattered along the trunk once flaking has occurred.

The leaves are sub-opposite or opposite, rarely alternate, elliptic to ovate and dark green with gland dots on the surface. The indented midrib and lateral veins create a peculiarly quilted appearance. The leaf apex tapers, the base as well, the margin irregularly toothed.

The small yellow flowers grow in short axillary spikes during winter and spring. The tree is dioecious, male tree flowers having clusters of stamens, female ones ovaries.

The fruit is an ellipsoid fleshy drupe, ripening on the tree in summer and autumn. Fruits may remain on the tree for nearly a year.

The species distribution ranges across the east of South Africa in a broad swathe, from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to mainly the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It is also widely distributed across Africa, as far as Cameroon and Sudan.

The habitat is evergreen and montane forests. The species is not considered threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Wikipedia; http://redlist.sanbi.org).