Vernonanthura phosphorica (Vell.) H. Rob.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Vumba road near Bunga Forest, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Staff compound, Castleburn, Woodland road, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Vumba road near Tom Hulley rd turn-off

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

Synonyms:	Chrysocoma phosphorica Vell. Eupatorium polyanthes Spreng. Vernonia polyanthes Less.
Common names:
Frequency:	Locally abundant
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Shrub or small tree, up to c. 4 m tall. Stems and branches with numerous, verrucose lenticels. Leaves alternate, oblong-lanceolate, up to c. 12 cm long, dull green and mostly hairless above, greyish stellate-hairy beneath; apex acuminate; margin serrate; petiole 5-7 mm long. Inflorescences in large terminal heads. Capitula white, without ray-florets.
Notes:	This species appears to have been introduced as a nectar plant for bees, possibly in the early 1990's in areas around Sussundenga, Mozambique. It has since become a serious invader of disturbed areas at lower altitudes around parts of the border mountains of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, such as lower Vumba and areas aound Chimanimani. Since the early years of this century it has also started to appear at higher altitudes, eg in the Vumba Mountains, although so far less abundantly.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Disturbed areas, secondary vegetation, along roadsides and forest margins, often as a dominant invasive species.
Altitude range: (metres)	345 - 1710 m
Flowering time:	Jul - Aug
Worldwide distribution:	Native to Brazil. Now an invasive weed at least in the border areas of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, possibly elsewhere.
Zimbabwe distribution:	E
Growth form:	S
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 2 October 2011
Literature:

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Other sources of information about Vernonanthura phosphorica:

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