Cnestis polyphylla
Cnestis polyphylla Lam.
Cnestis polyphylla, commonly known as itch pod, is a liane or scrambling shrub of the Connaraceae family. It is native to regions from East Tropical Africa, including Kenya, through Mozambique and Zimbabwe to Southern Africa. It is found in coastal and escarpment forests in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Eswatini, and KwaZulu-Natal, extending to the Eastern Cape. The species also occurs on the Indian Ocean islands of Madagascar, Mauritius, and Réunion. The genus Cnestis includes at least 13 species, primarily distributed in tropical Africa and nearby islands, with some extending to Southeast Asia and China.
Description
Cnestis polyphylla was described by Lam. in 1789. It is part of the genus Cnestis, which is part of the family Connaraceae. The species is distributed across several regions, including the Cape Provinces, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Northern Provinces, Réunion, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. This plant is adapted to a range of tropical and subtropical environments, particularly in forested areas.
Distribution
Global · Cape Provinces · Kenya · KwaZulu-Natal · Madagascar · Mauritius · Mozambique · Northern Provinces · Réunion · Swaziland · Zimbabwe
Synonyms
Omphalobium discolorCnestis boivinianaCnestis barboniensisCnestis bullataCnestis glabraCnestis luridaCnestis madagascariensisCnestis natalensisCnestis scandensFagarastrum natalenseCnestis polyphylla var. bullataSarmienta caulifloraZanthoxylum natalenseCnestis boiviniana