Home | > | List of families | > | Rubiaceae | > | Richardia | > | brasiliensis |
Synonyms: |
Richardsonia brasiliensis (Gomes) Hayne |
Common names: | Brazilian clover (English) |
Frequency: | Common |
Status: | Introduced |
Description: |
Prostrate, mat forming perennial herb or sometimes annual. Stems up to 40 cm long, densely covered in spreading hairs. Leaves elliptic, 1-6.5 cm long, usually covered with short hairs on the upper surface and on the margins and veins beneath; longer hairs near the base. Inflorescences terminal, 0.7-1.2 cm in diameter; bract ovate-elliptic, up 3.5 cm long with shorter bracts up to 1.7 cm. Corolla white, sometimes tinged pink with lobes 1-1.4 mm long. |
Notes: | It is closely related and very similar to Richardia scabra, another South American native. The two species may occur together. |
Derivation of specific name: | brasiliensis: of Brasil. |
Habitat: | Weed of disturbed places. |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 2010 m |
Flowering time: | Aug - Mar |
Worldwide distribution: | A native of South America, now a cosmopolitan weed |
Zimbabwe distribution: | 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: | Monday 14 January 2019 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 48. As Riccardia brasiliensis 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 74. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 92. Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. (1988). Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria Region Struik, Cape Town Pages 84 - 85. (Includes a picture). Verdcourt, B. (1988). Rubiaceae, Part 1 Flora Zambesiaca 5(1) Pages 191 - 192. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 59. (Includes a picture). |
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