Home | > | List of families | > | Rubiaceae | > | Leptactina | > | benguelensis |
Synonyms: |
Leptactina heinsioides sensu Garcia, non Hiern Leptactina lanceolata K. Schum. |
Common names: | Ivory carpet (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
A prostrate species, which may form extensive carpets. Leaves oblong-elliptic to somewhat oblanceolate, more or less densely pubescent beneath. Flowers solitary or in few-flowered terminal and subterminal clusters, fragrant. Corolla white; tube 2.5-6.5 cm long, densely pubescent on the outside; lobes spreading, up to 4 cm long. Fruit ellipsoid, orange when ripe, crowned with the long linear calyx lobes. |
Notes: | Flowering is activated by the first rains. The shape of the flowers can be quite variable with some specimens showing long narrow corolla lobes (image 2), while others have broad overlapping corolla lobes (image 4). |
Derivation of specific name: | benguelensis: after the Benguella region of Angola |
Habitat: | In rocky areas of Brachystegia woodland. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 1070 - 1740 m |
Flowering time: | Oct - Nov |
Worldwide distribution: | From DRC and Tanzania, south to Angola and Zimbabwe. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,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: | Sunday 25 May 2008 |
Literature: |
Bridson, D.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2003). Rubiaceae, Part 3 Flora Zambesiaca 5(3) Pages 542 - 543. Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 245. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 986. (Includes a picture). 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 102. 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 72. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 89. Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 132, plate 173 |
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