Synonyms:
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Common names:
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Frequency:
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Probably rare |
Status:
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Possibly introduced or Native |
Description:
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Erect or decumbent annual herb; stem up to 25 cm long. Leaves opposite, oblong-ovate, 4-6 cm long, sparsely silvery hairy,particularly on the veins; margin with a pair of large teeth in the lower third and sometimes coarsely toothed towards the apex; petiole very short, 0-2 mm long, not winged but with the base of the leaf somewhat decurrent. Flowers solitary, axillary, on pedicels 3-6 mm long (up to 9 mm in fruit). Calyx finely velvety with scattered capitate glands. Corolla white with or without a pale yellow centre; tube cylindric for about 2 mm, opening to the throat for 7-10 mm and 3-5 mm wide at the apex; lobes 3-5 mm long; anthers c. 1.5 mm long, bearded at the base. Capsule depressed globose, 6-10 mm wide with a beak 8-12 mm long, densely velvety. |
Notes:
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The very large disjunction in its distribution may possibly be due to a fairly recent introduction into Botswana possibly with cotton seed. |
Derivation of specific name:
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annua: annual |
Habitat:
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In grassland on clay soils and as a weed in cotton fields. |
Altitude range: (metres) |
1100 m (approx) |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution:
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Disjunct distribution from Niger, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania to western Zimbabwe and northern Botswana. |
Zimbabwe distribution:
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W |
Growth form(s):
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Endemic status:
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Red data list status:
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Insects associated with this species:
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Spot characters:
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Display spot characters for this species |
Literature:
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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 15.
Vollesen, K. (2013). Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 8(5) Pages 29 - 30.
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