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 Eswatini and Mozambique. It is critically endangered in eastern Zimbabwe.

Acridocarpus natalitius
Acridocapus natalitius at Kew Gardens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Malpighiaceae
Genus:	Acridocarpus
Species:	A. natalitius
Binomial name
Acridocarpus natalitius Adr. & Juss. var. natalitius Adr. & Juss. var. linearifolius Launert

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.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Acridocarpus natalitius.

• Acridocarpus natalitius, PlantZAfrica.com
• Acridocarpus natalitius, Flora of Zimbabwe

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