Hygrophila spiciformis Lindau

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Photo: James Varden
Chavava River, Mana Pools NP

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect, procumbent or somewhat scrambling, sticky glandular perennial herb, aromatic when crushed. Stems up to 1 m long, with stalked glands and flattened glossy hairs. Leaves opposite, more or less narrowly elliptic, up to 15 cm long, with scattered hairs above, more or less densely hairy below, particularly along the veins. Flowers in 1-6-flowered clusters, together forming a spike-like inflorescence up to 25 cm long; axes more or less densely hairy, many stalked glands and leaf-like bracts upto 2.5 cm long. Corolla mauve, blue or purple with conspicuous white markings and darker veins, 2-3.5 cm long, 2-lipped; lower lip elliptic with long clavate hairs. Capsule 10-12 mm long, finely velvety and with stalked glands near the apex.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	spiciformis: resembling a spike
Habitat:	Occurring in wet grassland, riverbeds and riverbanks, swamps and roadside ditches.
Altitude range:
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Worldwide distribution:	DRC, Rwanda, Ethiopia Kenya, Uganda Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, 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:	Saturday 10 October 2015
Literature:	Champluvier, D. (1985). Acanthaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume III Page 457. (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 14. Vollesen, K. (2013). Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 8(5) Pages 114 - 115.

Other sources of information about Hygrophila spiciformis:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Hygrophila spiciformis
Flora of the DRC: Hygrophila spiciformis
Flora of Mozambique: Hygrophila spiciformis
Flora of Rwanda: Hygrophila spiciformis
Flora of Zambia: Hygrophila spiciformis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hygrophila spiciformis

External websites:

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