Botanical name |
Maytenus undata |
Other names |
Koko tree; South African holly; kokoboom (Afrikaans) |
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Celastraceae |
Dimensions |
An evergreen, often a much-branched shrub of around 3m; occasionally in dense forest conditions it may be an erect, single-stemmed tree of four to five times that height |
Description of stem |
The bark is dark grey to grey-brown and smooth, becoming rough with age and flaking in square patches; young twigs purplish |
Description of leaves |
Variable leaf forms, although the toothing of the edges is a characteristic feature; ovate, oblong, leathery, pale green or greyish, although sometimes dark green; a dark mark at the tips of the leaf toothing |
Description of flowers |
Small greenish yellow or pinkish white flowers in axillary clusters appear through spring and summer |
Desciption of seed/fruit |
Dehiscent reddish brown, three-lobed capsules expose bright yellow seeds |
Description of roots |
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Variation |
A very variable species, partly dependent on the area in which it grows |
Propagation and cultivation |
Grown from seed or cuttings, best in forest conditions with much leaf material or compost in the soil and regular watering |
Tolerances |
Better in medium to higher rainfall areas |
Uses |
Garden tree or shrub that attracts fruit-eating birds; the wood is used for making smaller items such as tool handles |
Ecological rarity |
Common |
Pests and diseases |
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Other |
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Location |
Bushveld, riverine bush, forest edges and in dense forests |
Distribution |
Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Free State, Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga |
Country |
South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Madagascar, The Comores, Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen |