Maytenus procumbens

Maytenus procumbens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Celastrales
Family: Celastraceae
Genus: Maytenus
Species:
M. procumbens
Binomial name
Maytenus procumbens
(L.f.) Loes.

Maytenus procumbens, commonly known as the dune koko tree (Afrikaans: duinekokoboom), is a bushy shrub or small tree native to the coastal belt of southern and south-eastern South Africa, where it grows in coastal dune vegetation and wooded areas up to about 150 m (490 ft) above sea level.[1]

It typically grows as a dense, bushy plant with drooping branches that can extend over 6 m (20 ft). The bark is pale yellow-brown and may develop cracks as the plant ages. In winter, it produces clusters of greenish-white flowers, developing into fruits with bright orange seeds.

References

  1. ^ Momtaz, Saeideh; Hussein, Ahmed A.; Ostad, Seyed Nasser; Abdollahi, Mohammad; Lall, Namrita (2013). "Growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in human cancerous HeLa cells by Maytenus procumbens". Food and Chemical Toxicology. 51: 38–45. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2012.09.005. PMID 22989702.