Spermacoce princeae (K.Schum.) Verdc.
var. princeae

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (11)

Photo: Bart Wursten
Kaperekeza road, Nyika National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
At junction of Thazima-Kaperekezi rd and Chelinda rd, 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:	Borreria princeae K. Schum. Diodia stipulosa S. Moore
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Scrambling or decumbent, much branched perennial herb, 0.3–1.5 m long; stems often dark crimson, square, sparsely to densely hairy on the angles. Leaves subsessile, elliptic to ovate, 1.2–7 cm long, hairless or with sparse hairs beneath on the margins; venation much impressed. Stipules with base 4–6 mm long, hairy at least above, with 5–9 fimbriae 7–8.5 mm long. Flowers in dense few- to many-flowered axillary clusters at most nodes; bracts like stipules with fimbriae 6 mm. long. Calyx tube 1.2–3 mm long; lobes 4, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, with pubescent margins. Corolla white, sometimes pinkish tinged; tube 5–10.5 mm long, cylindrical or narrowly funnel-shaped; lobes oblong or elliptic, 3-6 mm long. Capsule oblong-ellipsoid, 5–6 mm long, valves opening widely, finely transversely wrinkled, hairless or finely pubescent, crowned with the persistent calyx lobes.
Type location:	Tanzania
Notes:	This species is very similar to Hexasepalum sarmentosum which has not yet been recorded from Malawi. That species generally is a less robust plant with smaller flowers and occurring at lower altitudes in more moist and shaded habitats.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Riverine forest and evergreen forest margins, disturbed vegetation and roadsides.
Altitude range: (metres)	1350 - 2250 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Cameroon, DRC, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe (See note).
National distribution:	N,S
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:	Saturday 29 September 2018
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 255. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 93. Verdcourt, B. (1988). Rubiaceae, Part 1 Flora Zambesiaca 5(1) Page 179.

Other sources of information about Spermacoce princeae var. princeae:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Spermacoce princeae var. princeae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Spermacoce princeae var. princeae

External websites:

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