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Synonyms: | |
Common names: | Burweed (English) Chaff-flower (English) |
Frequency: | Occasional |
Status: | Probably introduced |
Description: |
Stout perennial herb. Leaves oblong-elliptic, pointed at the apex, variably hairless or hairy but not appressed silvery hairy beneath. Inflorescences up to 35 cm long; flowers with perianth segments 4-7 mm long, greenish to purple-red. |
Notes: | Var. pubescens is a more robust plant with larger and more colourful flowers than var. sicula, a slender scrambling herb with silvery undersides to the undersurface of the young leaves. |
Derivation of specific name: | aspera: rough |
Habitat: | Widespread weed of disturbed and cultivated areas but also in understorey of forest, woodland and grassland, on floodplains and termite mounds. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1500 m |
Flowering time: | Oct - May |
Worldwide distribution: | Pantropical and subtropical with its origins uncertain. |
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 |
Literature: |
Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 78 - 79. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 56. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 150. (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 15. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 20. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 20. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 36. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 195. as Achyranthes aspera 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. Townsend, C.C. (1988). Amaranthaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(1) Pages 106 - 109. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 25. as Achyranthes aspera (Includes a picture). |
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