Vernonanthura polyanthes (Spreng.) A.J. Vega & Dematt.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Vumba road near Bunga Forest, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Staff compound, Castleburn, Woodland road, Vumba

Photo: Bart Wursten
Vumba road near Tom Hulley rd turn-off

Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Foot of Mt Dimbone, Zomba Community Land, Chimanimani Cornservation Area

Photo: Mark Hyde
New Years Gift Estate, Chipinge district

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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.

Other sources of information about Vernonanthura polyanthes:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Vernonanthura polyanthes
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Vernonanthura polyanthes

External websites:

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