Acridocarpus natalitius

Description

Acridocarpus natalitius, the moth fruit, is a species of plant in the Malpighiaceae family. It is found in south-eastern Africa, where it ranges from Pondoland to Limpopo in South Africa, and eastwards to Swaziland and Mozambique. It is critically endangered in eastern Zimbabwe. It is the southernmost species of its genus, and occurs in subtropical dry forests to subtropical dry shrubland. The flowers are visited by ants and bees. The samara fruit appear in summer, each with two to three veined wings, which remind of a moth with opened wings. It is a host plant for skipper butterflies.