Butterspoon
Cunonia capensis L.
Cunonia capensis is a small tree native to southern Africa, commonly known as the butterspoon tree. It is found in afromontane forests and along rivers, and is cultivated as an ornamental for its glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers. It is the only Cunonia species outside of New Caledonia.
Description
Cunonia capensis, also known as the butterspoon or butterknife tree, is a member of the Cunoniaceae family. It is native to the Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal in southern Africa. This species was first described by Linnaeus in 1759. It is distinguished by its glossy foliage and clusters of small, scented white flowers. The tree is commonly grown in gardens for ornamental purposes. It is the only species of the 24 Cunonia species that occurs outside of New Caledonia in the Pacific.
Other common names
ButterspoonRed Alder
Distribution
Global · Cape Provinces · KwaZulu-Natal
Synonyms
Oosterdyckia capensis