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Home Home » TYPES » Trees » Dichrostachys cinerea flower spike
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Dichrostachys cinerea flower spike

Dichrostachys cinerea flower spike
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  • Dalbergia melanoxylon bark
  • Dalbergia melanoxylon dwarf shoot
  • Dalbergia melanoxylon flowers
  • Dalbergia melanoxylon inflorescence
  • Dalbergia melanoxylon leaves
  • Dalbergia melanoxylon stem cluster
  • Dalbergia melanoxylon surface of a young stem
  • Dichrostachys cinerea
  • Dichrostachys cinerea flower spike
  • Dichrostachys cinerea flower spike and bud
  • Dichrostachys cinerea fruit pods
  • Dichrostachys cinerea leaves
  • Dioon spinulosum
  • Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia
  • Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia buds
  • Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia flowers
  • Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia fruit

Image information

Description

The flowers of the sickle-bush, as Dichrostachys cinerea is commonly known, grow singly or grouped in pendulous, fluffy, axillary spikes during spring and summer. Spike length is 2,5 cm to 5 cm. The generic name of Dichrostachys is a Greek word meaning two-coloured spike.

The curious bicoloured flower spike has a dense, jumbled mass of hairy pink or lilac staminodes (meaning sterile stamens) at its base, i.e. on top, as the inflorescences are pendulous.

These staminodes vary considerably in colour across regions within the overall distribution range of the tree. The variability is also present within regions and even on individual trees, maybe related to floral age.

The functional flowers in the spike form the narrower yellow section of the cylindrical structure that hangs below the staminodes. Each tiny floret in the yellow section of the spike comprises two whorls of fertile stamens, plus the female floral parts.

The photo shows some of the protruding whitish styles and stigmas of individual flowers. The flowers are fragrant (Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).

Also see the Plant Record under Trees elsewhere on this Site for more information and photos on the species.

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Photographer
Ricky Mauer
Author
Ivan Latti
 
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