Home | > | List of families | > | Lamiaceae | > | Basilicum | > | polystachyon |
Synonyms: |
Lumnitzera polystachya Spreng. Moschosma polystachyon (L.) Benth. Ocimum polystachyon L. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | Common |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Aromatic annual herb up to c. 1 m tall. Stems erect, strongly 4-angled, branching above, more or less hairless or with short appressed hairs on the inflorescence axis. Leaves opposite, ovate, up to 5 × 2(3) cm, glandular-punctate, usually hairless or rarely with scattered appressed hairs; margin serrate; petiole 10-35 mm long. Inflorescences mainly axillary with many, usually 6-flowered verticils 3-5 mm apart; flowers often concentrated on one side of the inflorescence. Calyx 1-1.5 mm long with scattered sessile glands and short hairs. Corolla white, blue or purple, 2-3 mm long; tube straight; lips with scattered glands. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | polystachyon: with many spikes. |
Habitat: | On riverbanks, along pools and in seasonally flooded areas. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 850 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread throughout the Old World tropics. |
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 |
Images last updated: | Saturday 3 December 2011 |
Literature: |
Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 77. 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 54. Paton, A.J. et al. (2009). Lamiaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 194 - 196. (Includes a picture). Paton, A.J. et al. (2013). Lamiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(8) Pages 158 - 159. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 68. |
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