Home | > | List of families | > | Pedaliaceae | > | Harpagophytum | > | zeyheri |
Synonyms: |
Harpagophytum zeyheri Decne. var. sublobatum (Engl.) Stapf |
Common names: | Grapple plant (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial herb with prostrate annual stems growing from a succulent taproot, forming a thick tuber. Leaves broadly ovate; margins crenate to deeply lobed. Flowers solitary in leaf axils, pink or purple, yellow in the throat. Fruit a woody capsule with 4 rows of curved arms, each bearing recurved spines. This species is similar to H. procumbens but is easily distinguished when in fruit. The fruits of H. procumbens have very long, curved arms, while those of H. zeyheri are much less extravagant. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | zeyheri: named after Carl Zeyher, 1799 - 1858, a German naturalist |
Habitat: | On Kalahari sand in dry open woodland |
Altitude range: (metres) | 500 - 1000 m |
Flowering time: | Dec - Feb |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in southern Africa, from Namibia and Zambia south to Botswana and Zimbabwe |
Zimbabwe distribution: | W,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: | Tuesday 13 February 2007 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 19. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Botswana Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 19. As Harpagophytum zeyheri Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 182. (Includes a picture). Ihlenfeldt, H.-D. (1988). Pedaliaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(3) Page 113. (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 66. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 92. As Harpagophytum zeyheri (Includes a picture). Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 122, plate 163 Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 91. |
Home | > | List of families | > | Pedaliaceae | > | Harpagophytum | > | zeyheri |