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Synonyms: |
Abena jamaicensis (L.) Hitchc. Stachytarpheta indica sensu auctt. Valerianoides jamaicensis (L.) Medic. Verbena jamaicensis L. Zapania jamaicensis (L.) Lam. |
Common names: | Blue porterweed (English) Indian snakeweed (English) Jamaica vervain (English) |
Description: | Shrubby perennial herb, 0.3-1.2 cm tall. Stems sometimes woody at the base, hairy at the nodes, sometimes purplish. Leaves elliptic, oblong, obovate or spathulate, often decurrent into the petiole, hairless or with sparse hairs on the veins beneath; margin crenate-dentate; petiole up to c. 1 cm long. Inflorescence in slender terminal spikes 14-50 cm long. Bracts 5-8 mm long, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, not longer than the fruiting calyx, hairless. Calyx 5-6 mm long, tubular, ellipsoid, 4-toothed with 2 central teeth shorter. Corolla blue or violet, rarely almost white; tube 8-11 mm long, exserted up to 5 mm, slightly curved; lobes c. 3 mm long. |
Notes: | So far it has only been recorded as a truely naturalised weed in the Rusitu Valley. |
Derivation of specific name: | jamaicensis: of Jamaica. |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Native of tropical America but now a more or less pantropical weed. |
Growth form(s): | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Fernandes, R. (2005). Verbenaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(7) Page 52. 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 82. District unknown Verdcourt, B. (1992). Verbenaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 19. |
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