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Synonyms: |
Dianella ensata (Thunb.) R.J.F. Hend. Dianella nemorosa Lam. Dracaena ensata Thunb. Dracaena ensifolia L. |
Common names: | Harebell (English) |
Frequency: | Local |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial herb up to 1.5 m tall, growing from a woody, horizontal rhizome, often forming dense colonies. Leaves 5-12, distichous, up to 50 cm long; basal part folded lengthwise, flattened, like a pseudopetiole; margin and midrib narrowly winged and bearing small forwardly pointing prickles. Inflorescence a lax panicle, taller than the leaves. Tepals 5-7 mm, pale mauve-blue. Fruit up to 8 mm in diameter, subspherical, glossy blue. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | ensifolia: sword-leaved. |
Habitat: | In deep shade in lowland evergreen forest, often near streams and rivers. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 350 - 1400 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | In Africa only known from the slower slopes of the Chimanimani Mountains in Mozambique and Zimbabwe but elsewhere in Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and possibly other western Indian Ocean Islands, Noerthwest India and adjacent areas in Asia. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | E |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | Vulnerable |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Saturday 2 November 2013 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 168. Goodier, R. & Phipps, J.B. (1961). A revised checklist of the vascular plants of the Chimanimani Mountains Kirkia 1 Page 51. In family Liliaceae 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 90. Timberlake, J., Darbyshire, I., Wursten, B., Hadj-Hammou, J., Ballings, P., Mapaura, A., Matimele, H., Banze, A., Chipanga, H., Muassinar, D., Massunde, J., Chelene, I., Osborne, J., Shah, T. (2016). Chimanimani Mountains: Botany and Conservation. Report produced under CEPF Grant 63512. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London. Page 52. Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 72. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 81. Zimudzi, C. & Pope, G.V. (2001). Hemerocallidaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(3) Pages 100 - 101. (Includes a picture). |
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