Vahlia dichotoma (Murray) Kuntze

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Pungwe River opposite Vinhu, Gorongosa National Park

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Synonyms:	Bistella dichotoma (Murray) Bullock Heuchera dichotoma Murray Oldenlandia dichotoma (Murray) Spreng. Oldenlandia pentandra Retz. Vahlia cordofana Hochst. Vahlia oldenlandiae DC. Vahlia oldenlandioides Roxb. Vahlia pentandra (Retz.) C. E. C. Fischer Vahlia silenoides DC. Vahlia tomentosa DC.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect branching annual, up to c. 60 cm high, sparsely crisped pubescent, sometimes glandular. Leaves linear to lanceolate, 6–70 mm long, narrowed towards base. Peduncles 0·1–2·2 cm long, 1-2-flowered; pedicels 0–8 mm long. Calyx-tube 1·3–2·5 mm long, sparsely to more or less densely pubescent; lobes ovate-lanceolate to triangular, 1–2·8 mm long, hairless or pubescent outside. Petals white to yellow, orbicular or obovate-oblong, 0·9–2·6 mm long, entire or sometimes becoming crenate towards apex; midvein and usually at least 1 pair of lateral veins apparent. Styles 0·6–2 mm long, usually hairless but occasionally with a few hairs. Capsule sparsely hairy, 2–3·3 mm. long.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	dichotoma: with regular 2-forked branching.
Habitat:	On sandy river banks.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	From Senegal to Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, India and Vietnam.
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,T,MS
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 25 December 2019
Literature:	Bridson, D.M. (1978). Vahliaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 49 - 50. (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 82.

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Flora of Malawi: Vahlia dichotoma
Flora of Zambia: Vahlia dichotoma
Flora of Zimbabwe: Vahlia dichotoma

External websites:

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