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Synonyms: |
Dioscorea hockii De Wild. Dioscorea stellato-pilosa De Wild. |
Common names: | Mutendeni (Shona) |
Frequency: | Common |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Twining climber with annual, right-twining, unarmed stems, growing from a perennial fleshy tuber. Leaves usually opposite, 10-20 cm long, heart-shaped, covered in stellate hairs, more densely so below. Flowers in pendent, axillary spikes, unisexual. Bulbils often present, particularly at flowering time, axillary, c. 1 cm in diameter, globose to ovoid, tuberculate, dark brown. Fruit 4-winged capsule, up to 2.4 × 3.9 cm, papery when dry. |
Notes: | This species is among several, which produces fertile bulbils along the stem. These bulbils are occasionally eaten in Zimbabwe, particularly in times of food shortage. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | Along forest margins, and Brachystegia woodland, among rocks and on riverbanks and termite mounds, often in more open or disturbed areas. |
Altitude range: (metres) | |
Flowering time: | Dec - Mar |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical Africa |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,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 23 October 2011 |
Literature: |
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. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 79. White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of Malawi Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pages 97 - 98. (Includes a picture). Wilkin, P. (2009). Dioscoreaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(2) Pages 134 - 136. (Includes a picture). |
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