Walleria nutans J. Kirk

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Great Dyke, nr Kopje Tops, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

Photo: Bart Wursten
Kopje Tops, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Walleria hockii De Wild. Walleria muricata N.E. Br.
Common names:
Frequency:	Locally frequent
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect perennial herb up to c. 30 cm tall, growing from 1-5 subspherical tubers, which are often buried up to 20 cm underground. Stem simple or sometimes up to 3-branched, hairless, strongly ribbed, scabrid or sometimes scattered recurved prickles. Leaves along the stem, sessile, linear-lanceolate, up to 17 cm long, longest higher up the stem, sometimes with recurved prickles on the midrib beneath and on the margin. Flowers on peduncles 2-5 cm long, nodding. Tepals white, pink, mauve, purple or blue, spreading, 6-15 mm long. Stamens yellow with blue or purple tips, tightly held together. Fruit a globose capsule, 8-17 mm in diameter, surrounded by the persistent perianth, green, yellow or orange.
Notes:	The flower, at first glance resembles a species of Solanum but, being a monocot, has 6 tepals in stead of 5 corolla lobes.
Derivation of specific name:	nutans: nodding.
Habitat:	On sandy soils in mixed deciduous woodland, grassland, rocky outcrops, dry riverbeds, sometimes in cleared areas.
Altitude range: (metres)	950 - 1700 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Northern Cape, Western cape, South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,C,E
Growth form:
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Monday 13 February 2012
Literature:	Cowley, E.J. & Brummitt, R.K. (2001). Tecophilaeaceae FZ 12(3) Page 19. Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 80 - 81. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 112. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 138.

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Other sources of information about Walleria nutans:

African Plant Database: Walleria nutans
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Walleria nutans
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Walleria nutans
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Walleria nutans
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Walleria nutans
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Walleria nutans
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Walleria nutans
JSTOR Plant Science: Walleria nutans
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Walleria nutans
Kew Monocotyledon checklist: Walleria nutans
Tropicos: Walleria nutans
West African Plants database: Walleria nutans