Home | > | List of families | > | Acanthaceae | > | Blepharis | > | subvolubilis |
Synonyms: |
Blepharis acuminata Oberm. Blepharis angusta sensu Obermeyer in part, non (Nees) T. Anderson Blepharis inaequalis sensu C.B. Clarke in part, non sensu stricto Blepharis saxatilis Pberm. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | Locally very common |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Erect to procumbent or trailing perennial herb. Stems up to 50 cm long. Leaves in whorls of 4 with one often much larger than the other three, linear-lanceolate to elliptic, up to 11.5 cm long, glossy, hairless or appressed hairy below, roughly hairy above; margin with up to 20 triangular teeth on each side. Spikes 4-12-flowered, 2-8.5 cm long. Bracts glossy, green to brownish, sometimes partly white between the veins or with white veins and edges, subhairless or appressed hairy, 5-7 veined from the base, more or less broadly obovate-elliptic, 23 45 mm long, spine-tip recurved, 8-18 mm long with 4-9 narrow spines on each side of the margin. Corolla bright blue to purple, rarely white, 24-37 mm long; lip broadly obovate, 13-28 mm wide, finely to densely hairy below, central lobe wider than long, truncate or emarginate and narrowing towards the base. |
Notes: | In Zimbabwe most flowers are white and often occur on chrome and serpentine soils (see photo). |
Derivation of specific name: | subvolubilis: somewhat twining, enveloping |
Habitat: | In Brachystegia woodland and bush, often on degraded or disturbed soils. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1450 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,C,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: | Saturday 22 December 2012 |
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 18. Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 301. (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 13. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 17. as Blepharis angusta and B. inaequalis Vollesen, K. (2000). Blepharis (Acanthaceae). A taxonomic revision. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Pages 58 - 63. (Includes a picture). Vollesen, K. (2013). Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 8(5) Pages 65 - 67. (Includes a picture). |
Home | > | List of families | > | Acanthaceae | > | Blepharis | > | subvolubilis |