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Commelina neurophylla
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Dam 2, Nyika National Park
Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Dam 2, Nyika National Park
Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Dam 2, Nyika National Park
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Commelina bianoensis De Wild. |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Perennial or sometimes annual herb with tufted, ascending to erect shoots 20-50 cm high; roots thin, orange, spreading horizontally. Leaves sessile, sheathing up to 3 cm at the base, mostly green, sometimes purplish or purple striped, linear to lanceolate-oblong, 2-9.5 cm long; margins scabrid, usually ciliate. Spathes usually solitary, sometimes almost clustered, slightly falcate, 1.4-2.7 cm long and 1.1-1.6 cm high; margins fused 8-15 mm, usually 10-15-flowered; peduncles 1-5 cm long, rarely longer. Flowers bisexual and male, 15-22 mm wide; paired petals violet, lavender or yellow-orange to apricot, ovate to kidney-shaped with a violet-purple or reddish claw 4-7 mm long; lower petal minute, ovate, whitish. Capsules bivalved, 5-6.5 mm long, pale yellow to medium brown, sometimes with dark spots, 4-seeded. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | In grassland or miombo woodland, usually in moist depressions on sandy soils. |
| Altitude range: | 1600 - 2350 m |
| Flowering time: | Feb - Jun |
| Worldwide distribution: | DRC, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
| Malawi distribution: | N(other?) |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Content last updated: | Friday 12 April 2019 |
| Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 294. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 15. Faden, R. (2012). Commelinaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 229 - 230. 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 86. Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Pages 37 - 38. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 108. |
Other sources of information about Commelina neurophylla:
Our websites:
Flora of Burundi: Commelina neurophyllaFlora of Zambia: Commelina neurophylla
Flora of Zimbabwe: Commelina neurophylla
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Commelina neurophyllaAfrican Plant Database: Commelina neurophylla
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Commelina neurophylla
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Commelina neurophylla
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Commelina neurophylla
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Commelina neurophylla
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Commelina neurophylla
JSTOR Plant Science: Commelina neurophylla
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Commelina neurophylla
Plants of the World Online: Commelina neurophylla
Tropicos: Commelina neurophylla
Wikipedia: Commelina neurophylla
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