Biophytum umbraculum Welw.

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Biophytum umbraculum

Photo: David Gwynne-Evans
Lower slopes Mt Mabu

Biophytum umbraculum

Photo: David Gwynne-Evans
Lower slopes Mt Mabu

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Synonyms: Biophytum petersianum Klotzsch
Biophytum rotundifolium Delhaye
Biophytum sessile Knuth
Oxalis sessilis Buch.-Ham. ex Baill.
Common names:
Frequency: Common
Status: Native
Description:
Annual herb, up to 40 cm. Stem simple, hairy, with a terminal rosette of pinnate leaves. Leaves with 3-10 pairs of leaflets, decreasing in size with the terminal pair largest, somewhat stiff and thickly textured. Inflorescences in 2-5-flowered umbels peduncles of up to 9 cm long. Flowers yellow or orange; pedicels shorter than the length of the calyx.
Notes: The leaves are sensitive and the leaflets fold up along the rhachis while the rosette may fold up as well.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: In Brachystegia woodland and cultivated land, particularly on sandy soils.
Altitude range: 510 - 1660 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in tropical Africa, Madagascar and tropical Asia.
Mozambique distribution: N,Z,T
Growth form:
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Saturday 21 July 2012
Literature:

Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 93. as Biophytum petersianum

Exell, A.W. (1963). Oxalidaceae FZ 2(1) Pages 157 - 159. as Biophytum petersianum (Includes a picture).

Lourteig, A. (1981). Biophytum umbraculum (Oxalidaceae) Brittonia 33(3) Pages 451 - 452.

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 65. as Biophytum petersianum

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 83.

Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 89. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Biophytum umbraculum:

African Plant Database: Biophytum umbraculum
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Biophytum umbraculum
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Biophytum umbraculum
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Biophytum umbraculum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Biophytum umbraculum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Biophytum umbraculum
JSTOR Plant Science: Biophytum umbraculum
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Biophytum umbraculum
Tropicos: Biophytum umbraculum
West African Plants database: Biophytum umbraculum


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Stefaan Dondeyne 2007-13

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Dondeyne, S. (2013). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Biophytum umbraculum.
http://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=132860, retrieved 25 May 2013

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