Dais cotinifolia
| Dais cotinifolia | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Thymelaeaceae |
| Genus: | Dais |
| Species: | D. cotinifolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Dais cotinifolia | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Dais cotinifolia, known as the pompom tree, is a small Southern African tree belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family. It occurs along the east coast northwards from the Eastern Cape, inland along the Drakensberg escarpment through KwaZulu-Natal and the Transvaal, with an isolated population in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. It flowers profusely during the summer months and produces a multitude of pink, sweet-scented, globular flowerheads about 8 cm across.[1]
Description
Dias cotinifolia is a small tree of up to 6m in height, with a rounded, leafy crown.[2] In cultivation, its height and span only reach 2-3m in the UK[1] and can reach up to 4 metres in Australia.[3] It has small ovate-oblong shaped and lustrous leaves up to 5cm long.[1] It is evergreen in mild climates and deciduous in cool climates.[3] In spring,[3] or in the summer,[1] it bears scented star-shaped rose-lilac,[1] or pink coloured flowers,[3] in round clusters 8 cm across.[1] The bark is tough and fibrous and the branchlets are difficult to break.[4]
Uses
Used as an ornamental in gardens,[1] can be grown as a small tree or multi-stemmed shrub.[3] It prefers full sun and in fertile and well drained soils.[1][3]
Its bark yields fibres that are strong enough to be used as thread.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Christopher Brickell RHS Encyclopedia Of Plants and Flowers (2019), p. 561, at Google Books
- ^ van der Walt, Liesl (November 2000). "Dais cotinifolia". South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Retrieved 20 January 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Plant Profile - Pom Pom Tree". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ Van Wyk, Braam; Van Wyk, Piet (1997). Field guide to trees of Southern Africa. Struil. ISBN 1-86825-922-6.