Home | > | List of families | > | Asteraceae | > | Vernonanthura | > | polyanthes |
Synonyms: |
Chrysocoma phosphorica Vell. Eupatorium polyanthes Spreng. Vernonanthura phosphorica (Vell.) H. Rob. Vernonia polyanthes Less. |
Common names: | Bee bush (English) Bee plant (English) |
Frequency: | Locally abundant |
Status: | Introduced |
Description: |
Shrub or small tree, up to c. 4 m tall. Stems and branches with numerous, verrucose lenticels. Leaves alternate, oblong-lanceolate, up to c. 12 cm long, dull green and mostly hairless above, greyish stellate-hairy beneath; apex acuminate; margin serrate; petiole 5-7 mm long. Inflorescences in large terminal heads. Capitula white, without ray-florets. |
Notes: | This species appears to have been introduced as a nectar plant for bees, possibly in the early 1990's in areas around Sussundenga, Mozambique. It has since become a serious invader of disturbed areas at lower altitudes around parts of the border mountains of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, such as lower Vumba and areas around Chimanimani. Since the early years of this century, it has also started to appear at higher altitudes, eg in the Vumba Mountains, although so far less abundantly. In 2023, the species reached Harare, see records numbered 119374 and 120420. |
Derivation of specific name: | |
Habitat: | Disturbed areas, secondary vegetation, along roadsides and forest margins, often as a dominant invasive species. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 345 - 1710 m |
Flowering time: | Jul - Aug |
Worldwide distribution: | Native to Brazil. Now an invasive weed at least in the border areas of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, possibly elsewhere. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | CE |
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 2 October 2011 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 1031. (Includes a picture). Vega, A.J. & Dematteis, M. (2010). The transfer of Vernonia perangusta to the genus Vernonanthura (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) and the correct name for Vernonanthura phosphorica Phytotaxa 8 Pages 46 - 50. Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 90. |
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