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Synonyms: |
Kedrostis hirtella (Naudin) Cogn. Kedrostis natalensis (Hook. f.) Meeuse Rhynchocarpa hirtella Naud. Toxanthera kwebensis N.E. Br. Toxanthera lugardae N.E. Br. Toxanthera natalensis Hook. f. Turia leloja J.F. Gmel. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Climbing herb with stems up to 2 m long, growing from a tuberous rootstock. Stems shortly bristly hairy. Tendrils simple or 2-fid. Leaves broadly ovate to pentagonal in outline, unlobed to more or less deeply 3-5-lobed, up to 7.5 × 11 cm, shortly rough hairy on both surfaces, usually more densely beneath, broadly cordate at the base; petiole up to 6 cm long. Flowers unisexual at different nodes on the same plant. Male flowers 5-20 in axillary racemes on peduncles 1.5-9 cm long; petals 2-5 mm long, cream, yellow or greenish-yellow. Female flowers solitary, axillary; petals 2.5-8 mm long. Fruit cylindric-fusiform, up to 6.5 cm long, beaked, green, often spotted pale green or white, ripening to red and splitting longitudinally. |
Notes: | Some forms are generally much weaker looking with shorter stems, smaller flowers and leaves, simple tendrils and fruit with a longer beak, often found at lower altitudes. These were formerly regarded as K. leloja (s.s.) while more robust plants were named K. hirtella. The two taxa are now regarded as the same under K. leloja as the older, accepted name. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | Drier deciduous woodland |
Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 1450 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical Africa, South Africa and Yemen |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,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 14 February 2016 |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 35. Jeffrey, C. (1978). Cucurbitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 484 - 486. K. leloja and K. hirtella treated separately (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 38. Reekmans, M. (1983). Cucurbitaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Page 469. as Kedrostis hirtella Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 205. as Kedrostis hirtella |
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