Melhania forbesii Planch. ex Mast.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Near the lodges, Lake Kyle Recreational Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near the viewing platform, Masuma Dam, Hwange NP

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

Synonyms:	Melhania serrulata R.E. Fr.
Common names:
Frequency:	Frequent
Status:	Native
Description:	Branched shrubby herb up to c. 60 cm tall. All vegetative parts covered in greyish hairs, mixed with rusty brown stellate hairs, particularly on stems, petioles and veins on the udersides of leaves. Leaves up to 11 × 5 cm, oblong, ovate-oblong to ovate, somewhat discolorous; margin serrate or crenate; petioleup to 2.5 cm long. Flowers axillary, 1-3 together on pedunclesup to 9 cm long. Epicalyx bracts up to 1.5 × 1 cm, broadly ovate, pointed to slightly acuminate, densely greyish-white hairy. Sepals lanceolate, as long as or shorter than the epicalyx bracts. Petals broadly obovate, bright yellow. Style 1-3 mm long. Fruit slightly shorter than the sepals, ovoid, hairy.
Notes:	See the similar Melhania acuminata for comparison.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In drier types of open woodland.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Limpopo, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,C,E,S
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 19 March 2012
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 112. 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 80. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 75. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 111. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1960-1). Sterculiaceae FZ 1(2) Pages 531 - 532. (Includes a picture).

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Other sources of information about Melhania forbesii:

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