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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Genus: Dombeya

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid II > Order: Malvales > Family: Malvaceae

Formerly in Sterculiaceae. Over 300 species worldwide, native to Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Madagascar, Comores and Mascarenes. There are 19 African species of which nine are native to southern Africa. A further species and hybrid are cultivated in the region.

Species native to southern Africa

List from Plants of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI), Flora of Zimbabwe and Flora of Mozambique.

Dombeya autumnalis

 

Dombeya burgessiae (Pink wild pear)

See Flora of Zimbabwe.

 

Dombeya cymosa (Natal wild pear)

  

Dombeya kirkii

See Flora of Zimbabwe.

 

Dombeya pulchra (Silver white pear)

  

Dombeya quinqueseta

 

Dombeya rotundifolia (Common wild pear)

See Wikipedia and Flora of Zimbabwe.

 

Dombeya shupangae

Recorded from Mozambique. See Flora of Mozambique.

 

Dombeya tiliacea (Forest wild pear)

  

Other species, cultivated in southern Africa

List from Glen (2002).

Dombeya spectabilis

Native to Madagascar.

 

Dombeya x cayeuxii

Probably a garden hybrid of Dombeya burgessiae and Dombeya wallichii

  

Herbivores

Lophostethus dumolinii (Arrow Sphinx Hawkmoth)

Caterpillars recorded eating leaves of Dombeya cymosa and Dombeya rotundifolia.

Lepidoptera: Sphingidae (hawkmoths)

  

Links

Publications

  • Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.