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Synonyms: |
Urginea altissima (L.f.) Baker Urginea micrantha (A. Rich.) Solms |
Common names: | Tall white squill (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Tall perennial herb, up to 1 m tall, growing from a large bulb, often half above ground with tough, overlapping fleshy scales. Leaves tough, erect, up to 30 × 3 cm, absent at flowering time. Flowers in a dense terminal raceme, up to 60 cm long, white with a green midline on the outside of the tepals. Flowers opening in the morning, usually closing by midday. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | altissima: very tall |
Habitat: | In open woodland and scrub, often in large colonies. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | Sep - Dec |
Worldwide distribution: | Tropical and South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Sunday 1 February 2009 |
Literature: |
Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 196 - 197. as Urginea altissima (Includes a picture). 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 126. Also as Urginea micrantha Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 85. (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 91. as Urginea altissima Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 65. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 122. Shone, D.K. & Drummond, R.B. (1965). Poisonous Plants of Rhodesia Ministry of Agriculture, Rhodesia Pages 30 - 31. as Urginea altissima (Includes a picture). Stedje, B. (1996). Hyacinthaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 19 - 20. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 108. |
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