Lagenaria sphaerica (Sond.) Naudin

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Lagenaria sphaerica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyamuakwarara River, John Meikle Research Station

Lagenaria sphaerica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyamuakwarara River, John Meikle Research Station

Lagenaria sphaerica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyamuakwarara River, John Meikle Research Station

Lagenaria sphaerica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyamuakwarara River, John Meikle Research Station

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Lagenaria mascarena Naud.
Luffa sphaerica Sond.
Sphaerosicyos sphaericus (Cogn.) Sond.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Perennial climber with annual stems, up to 10 m long. Tendrils 2-fid. Leaves up to 19 × 22 cm, broadly ovate in outline, deeply 5-lobed, dark green above, paler and densely puberulous below; cordate at the base; margin with coarse sinuate teeth. Flowers unisexual on different plants, in racemes or solitary; white with green veins. Fruit almost round, smooth, up to 12 × 11 cm, dark green with smaller and larger pale patches.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: In riverine forest and thickets
Altitude range: (metres) Up to 1700 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: From Somalia to the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Also in Madagascar and the Comoros.
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: Monday 8 June 2009
Literature:

Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 88 - 89. (Includes a picture).

Jeffrey, C. (1978). Cucurbitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 438 - 439. (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.

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 53.


Other sources of information about Lagenaria sphaerica:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Lagenaria sphaerica
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Lagenaria sphaerica
Flora of Malawi: Lagenaria sphaerica
Flora of Mozambique: Lagenaria sphaerica
Flora of Zambia: Lagenaria sphaerica

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Lagenaria sphaerica
African Plant Database: Lagenaria sphaerica
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Lagenaria sphaerica
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Lagenaria sphaerica
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Lagenaria sphaerica
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Lagenaria sphaerica
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Lagenaria sphaerica
JSTOR Plant Science: Lagenaria sphaerica
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Lagenaria sphaerica
Plants of the World Online: Lagenaria sphaerica
Tropicos: Lagenaria sphaerica
Wikipedia: Lagenaria sphaerica


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Lagenaria sphaerica.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=157390, retrieved 28 March 2024

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