Swertia tetrandra Hochst.

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Swertia tetrandra

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Rukotso, Nyanga

Swertia tetrandra

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Rukotso, Nyanga

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency: Uncommon
Status: Native
Description:
Erect annual herb, up to 18 cm. Stems simple or branching at the apex, 4-ridged. Leaves opposite, widely spaced, sessile, ovate to elliptic-oblong. Flowers terminal, 4-numerous, whitish with greenish veins. Fruit a small ellipsoid, beaked capsule. This species is easily distinguished as is the only Swertia in Zimbabwe with 4 corolla lobes.
Notes: The Zimbabwe population is well separated and isolated from those elsewhere in East Africa.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: In damp montane grassland.
Altitude range: (metres) 2100 - 2300 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe distribution: E
Growth form(s): Annual.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Tuesday 28 February 2006
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 53.

Paiva, J. & Nogueira, I. (1990). Gentianaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(4) Page 31.


Other sources of information about Swertia tetrandra:

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Swertia tetrandra.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=144820, retrieved 28 March 2024

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