Andrachne ovalis Müll. Arg.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Cecil Kop NR, Mutare

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Synonyms:
Common names:	False lightning-bush (English) Insecticide-root (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Usually a shrub but occasionally a small tree. Leaves alternate along long slender branches, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 2-6 cm, hairless; midrib visible but lateral veining obscure; margins entire. Flowers axillary, unisexual on the same tree, greenish-white with translucent petals; male flowers in small clusters; female flowers solitary on long stalks. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule, c. 10 mm in diameter, dehiscent.
Notes:	The roots are used as an insecticide against fleas and lice, and a snake-bite remedy.
Derivation of specific name:	ovalis: oval, elliptic
Habitat:	In the understorey and along the margins of forest.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Nov - Jan
Worldwide distribution:	From the the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Eswatini to E Zimbabwe, and adjacent areas in Mozambique (?).
Zimbabwe distribution:	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:	Monday 24 March 2008
Literature:	Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 250. 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 40. Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 27 - 28. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Andrachne ovalis:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Andrachne ovalis

External websites:

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