Nuxia gracilis
| Nuxia gracilis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Stilbaceae |
| Genus: | Nuxia |
| Species: | N. gracilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Nuxia gracilis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Nuxia gracilis, commonly known as sticky elder or sticky nuxia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Stilbaceae. It is a shrub with white flowers, and capsule fruits. The species is native to South Africa, and was described in 1888.
Taxonomy
The species was described by Adolf Engler in 1888.[2]
Distribution
The species is native to the seasonally dry tropical biome of South Africa.[1] It is present in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the Northern Cape, and the North West.[3] The species is found at elevations of 915–1,770 metres (3,002–5,807 ft).[4]
Nuxia gracilis grows in dry river beds, and at the base of limestone escarpments.[5]
Description
Nuxia gracilis is a perennial shrub that grows 1.2–4 metres (3.9–13.1 ft) high.[4] The leaves are linear-oblanceolate, 15–45 millimetres (0.59–1.77 in) long, 2–8 millimetres (0.079–0.315 in) wide, and usually grow in groups of three. The leaf margins are finely serrated.[5]
The flowers are white, arranged in clusters of eight or more, and grow on 2–5 millimetres (0.079–0.197 in) long stems. The calyx is light brown or green. The corolla is white, and forms a tube enclosed in the calyx. The corolla has lobes, which are broadly oblong, around 2.5 millimetres (0.098 in), and around 1.75 millimetres (0.069 in) wide. The inflorescences are similar to those of Nuxia glomerulata.[5]
Names
In English, Nuxia gracilis is commonly known as sticky elder, sticky nuxia,[3] or limestone-elder.[6] In Afrikaans, the species is known as taaivlier[3] or kalkvlier.[6]
References
- 1 2 "Nuxia gracilis". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "Nuxia gracilis Engl". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens.
- 1 2 3 "Sticky Elder". Redlist.sanbi.org. South African National Biodiversity Institute. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Nuxia gracilis Engl". AfricanPlantDatabase.ch. African Plant Database. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Nuxia gracilis Engl". WorldFloraOnline.org. World Flora Online. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Nuxia gracilis Engl". CatalogueOfLife.org. Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 8 July 2026.