Vernonia natalensis Sch. Bip. ex Walp.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Ndundu Lodge, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Gwasha, Chinyakwaremba, Vumba

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Synonyms:	Hilliardiella aristata (DC.) H. Rob. Vernonia pseudonatalensis Wild Vernonia smithiana sensu Wild p.p. Webbia aristata DC.
Common names:	Chiwanika (Shona)
Frequency:	Common
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect perennial herb up to 1.2 m high with many annual stems, mostly unbranched, growing from a woody rootstock. Whole plant densely covered in silvery-grey appressed T-shaped hairs.Leaves numerous along the stems, linear-lanceolate or elliptic, mostly 3-10 cm long, silvery-grey or greenish-grey hairy. Capitula numerous in a terminal sub-corymbose head. Florets bright purple.
Notes:	It is quite attractive, even when not in flower, due to its velvety, silvery foliage.
Derivation of specific name:	natalensis: of Natal, South Africa
Habitat:	In (sub) montane grassland and bracken scrub or in vleis, grassland and miombo woodland, often are a pyrophytic species, coming up and flowering after fires.
Altitude range: (metres)	1330 - 2400 m
Flowering time:	Late Oct - Nov
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
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:	Wednesday 9 June 2021
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 203. (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 176 - 177. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 111. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 58. 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 29. Pope, G.V. (1992). Compositae Flora Zambesiaca 6(1) Pages 95 - 97. (Includes a picture). Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 24. Wild, H. (1978). New and interesting Vernonia species from the Flora Zambesiaca area Kirkia 11(1) Pages 11 - 12. Protologue as Vernonia pseudonatalensis Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 90.

Other sources of information about Vernonia natalensis:

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Flora of Malawi: Vernonia natalensis
Flora of Mozambique: Vernonia natalensis
Flora of Zambia: Vernonia natalensis

External websites:

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