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Synonyms: |
Dioscorea brevipes Burtt-Davy Dioscorea marlothii R. Knuth Dioscorea montana (Burch.) Spreng var. lobata Weim. Dioscorea montana (Burch.) Spreng var. sagittata Suess. Dioscorea montana (Burch.) Spreng var. glauca R. Knuth Dioscorea rehmanni Baker Dioscorea sylvatica (Kunth) Eckl. var. sylvatica Dioscorea sylvatica (Kunth) Eckl. var. brevipes (Burtt Davy) Burkill Testudinaria multiflora Marloth Testudinaria paniculata Dummer Testudinaria sylvatica Kunth |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | Frequent |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Slender left-twining herb with annual stems growing from a tuber. Leaves alternate, distinctly heart-shaped, often almost appearing 2-lobed at the base, tapering to a long point at the apex. Flowers in lax, pendulous racemes up to 12 cm long, unisexual, creamy white. Fruit a 4-winged capsule, up to 2.8 × 2 cm. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | sylvatica: sylvan, forest-loving |
Habitat: | In margins of forest and in bracken or ericoid scrub. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1800 m |
Flowering time: | Nov - Feb |
Worldwide distribution: | Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,E |
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: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 21. As Dioscorea sylvatica sylvatica Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 82 - 83. (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 90. as D. sylvatica var. sylvatica and D. sylvatica var. brevipes Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 514 - 515. (Includes a picture). Wilkin, P. (2009). Dioscoreaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(2) Pages 136 - 137. (Includes a picture). |
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