Buchnera cryptocephala (Baker) Philcox
var. cryptocephala

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (5)

Buchnera cryptocephala var. cryptocephala

Photo: Bart Wursten
Chelinda road before Chozi turn-off, Nyika National Park

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

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

Synonyms:	Buchnera pulchra Skan ex S. Moore Lobostemon cryptocephalum Baker
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect annual herb, mostly up to 90 cm tall, drying green or brown, not black; stems simple or sparsely branched, scabrid. Leaves opposite or alternate along the stem, ovate-elliptic to oblong, 12–65 mm long, 3-5-veined, hispid-scabrid; margin entire. Inflorescence terminal in globose, hemispheric to cylindric, densely compacted head-like spikes, up to 38 mm long and 35 mm wide, usually subtended by numerous upper leaves. Bracts lanceolate, ovate or elliptic-lanceolate, 5.5–9 mm long, pilose-hispid, ciliate. Calyx 5-lobed, prominently 10-veined, hispid-scabrid especially on nerves; lobes ovate or ovate-lanceolate to linear-triangular, 1.5–2.75 mm. long. Corolla blue to purple; tube to about 10 mm long, hairless or minutely glandular outside, hairy in the throat; lobes broadly obovate, up to 4.5 mm long. Capsule ovoid-ellipsoid, 4–5 mm long, hairless.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Wet grassland, woodland and marshy places.
Altitude range:	600 - 2300 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Malawi distribution:	N,C
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:	Wednesday 17 April 2019
Literature:	Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 130 - 131. as Buchnera pulchra (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 264. (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 77. Philcox, D. (1990). Scrophulariaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(2) Pages 99 - 101. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 96.

Other sources of information about Buchnera cryptocephala var. cryptocephala:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Buchnera cryptocephala var. cryptocephala
Flora of Zimbabwe: Buchnera cryptocephala var. cryptocephala

External websites:

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