Hesperantha ballii Wild

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Saddle below higher slopes of Mt Nhamudimu, Chimanimani Mts

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Perennial herb, 12-25 cm tall. Leaves 4, lower 2 basal, linear; upper 2 sheathing along the stem. Stem erect, unbranched. Spike 1-2-flowered, the flowers down-curved, facing the ground. Floral bracts 11-14 mm long, green flushed with red, the outer bracts with margins united for c. 3 mm. Flowers white with dark red on the outside of the tepals; perianth tube 11-15 mm long curved near the apex, slightly exceeding the bracts. Anthers yellow, pendent.
Notes:	Endemic to Chimanimani. Only collected twice. Note: Flowers normally open at sunset, facing downwards and are fragrant.
Derivation of specific name:	ballii: named after John Ball, orchidologist, who collected the type for this species.
Habitat:	On thin quartzite soils on rock shelves and in grassland.
Altitude range: (metres)	1850 - 2200 m (approx)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Restricted to the Chimanimani Mountains, Zimbabwe and Mozambique
Zimbabwe distribution:	E
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:	Near Endemic
Red data list status:	Vulnerable
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Saturday 7 June 2014
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. Darbyshire, I., Timberlake, J., Osborne, J., Rokni, S., Matimele, H., Langa. C., Datizua, C., de Sousa, C., Alves, T., Massingue, A., Hadj-Hammou, J., Dhanda, S., Shah, T., Wursten, B. (2019). The endemic plants of Mozambique: diversity and conservation status Phytotaxa 136 Page 77. Goldblatt, P. (1993). Iridaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(4) Page 61. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 165. Mapaura, A. (2002). Endemic Plant Species of Zimbabwe. Kirkia 18(1) Page 128. 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 92. 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 47. Wild, H. (1964). The endemic species of the Chimanimani Mountains and their significance Kirkia 4 Pages 136 - 137. Protologue Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 83.

Other sources of information about Hesperantha ballii:

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Flora of Mozambique: Hesperantha ballii

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Hesperantha ballii
African Plant Database: Hesperantha ballii
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Hesperantha ballii
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Hesperantha ballii
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Hesperantha ballii
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iNaturalist: Hesperantha ballii
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Hesperantha ballii
JSTOR Plant Science: Hesperantha ballii
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Hesperantha ballii
Plants of the World Online: Hesperantha ballii
Tropicos: Hesperantha ballii
Wikipedia: Hesperantha ballii