Lepidagathis scariosa (O. Hoffm.) Nees

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Lepidagathis scariosa

Photo: James Varden
Chewore Safari Area

Lepidagathis scariosa

Photo: James Varden
Chewore Safari Area

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Synonyms: Lepidagathis sciaphila S. Moore
Lepidagathis terminalis Nees
Ruellia aristata Vahl
Volkensiophyton neuracanthoides Lindau
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Much-branched perennial herb or small shrub, up to 1 m high. Leaves ovate-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, 2.8-9 cm long, pale stellate-pubescent, more densely so beneath particularly on the veins; petiole up to 7.5 mm long. Inflorescence terminal, sessile, in spike-like cymes combined into a globose or conical head, up to 4.5 cm long. Bracts subtending the heads leaf-like, rhombic, ovate or lanceolate, often expanded at the base, stellate-pubescent. Floral bracts brown to purplish, elliptic-obovate to oblong-lanceolate, 4-14 mm long mucronate or aristate at the apex, with few to many long pale hairs at least on the margin. Calyx purple-tinged; lobes aristate, densely long hairy and with short glandular hairs. Corolla 19022 mm long, pink to purple, rarely white; tube 10.5-13 mm long; lobes with long hairs. Capsule 8.5-10 mm long, shortly pubescent at the apex.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: scariosa:from scarious meaning thin, dry or parchment-like
Habitat: In miombo and mopane woodland, associated grassland, often on rocky hillsides.
Altitude range: 600 - 1400 m
Flowering time:Mar - Aug
Worldwide distribution: Mali, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola. Also in Arabia and India.
Mozambique distribution: MS
Growth form(s): Perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Thursday 22 October 2015
Literature:

Darbyshire, I., Vollesen, K. & Kelbessa, E. (2015). Acanthaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 8(6) Pages 22 - 23.

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.

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 19.

Other sources of information about Lepidagathis scariosa:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Lepidagathis scariosa
Flora of Zimbabwe: Lepidagathis scariosa

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave 2007-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Lepidagathis scariosa.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=153460, retrieved 28 March 2024

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