Maytenus acuminata

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Maytenus acuminata

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Celastrales
Family:	Celastraceae
Genus:	Maytenus
Species:	M. acuminata
Binomial name
*Maytenus acuminata* (L.f.) Loes.

Maytenus acuminata (also called the silky bark, umNama or Sybas) is a variable, medium-sized, evergreen tree indigenous to Africa, including South Africa. Here it is especially common on the verges of afro-montane forest. It produces small, white flowers and bright orange or red berries. In cultivation it is useful as a light shade tree, as an ornamental, or for attracting birds.^[2] The reference to "silk" in some of its common names derives from the way in which some of its sap will congeal into silky threads on contact with air. This can most easily be demonstrated by carefully breaking a leaf across, then gently pulling the two halves apart (see illustration). The threads appear at points that coincide with the positions where major veins in the leaf have broken. The threads do not appear to have any practical use, least of all as fibre.

Pictures

In cultivation.
Foliage detail
Foliage detail 2.
Maytenus acuminata leaf, showing "silk"

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maytenus acuminata.

^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) (Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), Descanso House; false.email@globaltrees.org (2018-06-12). "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Maytenus acuminata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2020-09-23. {{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
^ "var. acuminata 'Silky Showers'". Archived from the original on 2010-09-06. Retrieved 2010-10-19.

Taxon identifiers
Maytenus acuminata	Wikidata: Q6798018 Wikispecies: Maytenus acuminata CoL: 3YHSQ EoL: 6940145 GBIF: 3791179 GRIN: 310873 iNaturalist: 557508 IPNI: 161800-1 IUCN: 146196632 NCBI: 1237617 Open Tree of Life: 5233476 Plant List: kew-2360109 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:161800-1 Tropicos: 6600397 WFO: wfo-0000369427
Celastrus acuminatus	Wikidata: Q38623089 GRIN: 9704 IFPNI: EB9187EC-5673-444D-87F6-2F0015182490 IPNI: 160192-1 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:160190-1 Tropicos: 6600399 WFO: wfo-0000592620

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