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Synonyms: |
Abena jamaicensis (L.) Hitchc. Stachytarpheta indica sensu auctt. Valerianoides jamaicensis (L.) Medic. Verbena jamaicensis L. Zapania jamaicensis (L.) Lam. |
Common names: | Blue porterweed (English) Indian snakeweed (English) Jamaica vervain (English) |
Frequency: | Very locally frequent |
Status: | |
Description: |
Shrubby perennial herb, 0.3-1.2 cm tall. Stems sometimes woody at the base, hairy at the nodes, sometimes purplish. Leaves elliptic, oblong, obovate or spathulate, often decurrent into the petiole, hairless or with sparse hairs on the veins beneath; margin crenate-dentate; petiole up to c. 1 cm long. Inflorescence in slender terminal spikes 14-50 cm long. Bracts 5-8 mm long, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, not longer than the fruiting calyx, hairless. Calyx 5-6 mm long, tubular, ellipsoid, 4-toothed with 2 central teeth shorter. Corolla blue or violet, rarely almost white; tube 8-11 mm long, exserted up to 5 mm, slightly curved; lobes c. 3 mm long. |
Type location: |
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Notes: | So far it has only been recorded as a truely naturalised weed in the Rusitu Valley. |
Derivation of specific name: | jamaicensis: of Jamaica. |
Habitat: | Widely cultivated as a garden ornamental, particularly in rural areas, where it locally escapes and occurs as a naturalised weed in abandoned cultivated fields, along road sides and in disturbed places. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 450 - 500 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Native of tropical America but now a more or less pantropical weed. |
National distribution: | E |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Fernandes, R. (2005). Verbenaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(7) Page 52. 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 82. District unknown Verdcourt, B. (1992). Verbenaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 19. |
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