Flacourtia zippelii

Description

Flacourtia is a genus of flowering plants in the willow family, Salicaceae. It was previously placed in the now defunct family Flacourtiaceae. The generic name honors -tienne de Flacourt (1607-1660), a governor of Madagascar. It contains 15 species of shrubs and small trees that are native to the African and Asian tropics and subtropics. Several species, especially F. indica, are cultivated as ornamentals and for their fruits. The trunks of small trees are often guarded by branching spines.