Argusia argentea (L.f.) Heine

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Argusia argentea

Photo: Ton Rulkens
Praia de Tofinho, Inhambane, Mozambique

Argusia argentea

Photo: Ton Rulkens
Praia de Tofinho, Inhambane, Mozambique

Argusia argentea

Photo: Ton Rulkens
Praia de Tofinho, Inhambane, Mozambique

Argusia argentea

Photo: Ton Rulkens
Praia de Tofinho, Inhambane, Mozambique

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Messerschmidia argentea (L.f.) I.M. Johnst.
Tournefortia argentea L.f.
Common names: Octopus bush (English) Tree heliotrope (English) Velvet soldierbush (English)
Frequency: Locally common
Status: Native
Description:
Erect shrub or small tree to 4 m; branches bearing prominent leaf scars. Leaves ± sessile, spirally arranged, crowded near the apices, 7-22 × 4-11 cm, ovate or obovate, sometimes rhombic, greyish and velvety; apex rounded. Inflorescence a terminal panicle or corymb of numerous flowers. Corolla lobes c. 1 mm long, white. Fruit c. 5 × 7 mm, subspherical, glabrous.
Notes: This species has recently been transferred into the genus Heliotropium as H. foertherianum Diane & Hilger
Derivation of specific name: argentea: silvery; possibly referring to the colour of the leaves
Habitat: On rocky coral beaches
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: In Africa, occurring in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique and in the islands of the Indian Ocean; widespread elsewhere in the tropics.
Mozambique distribution: N,Z,GI
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 23 July 2014
Literature:

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 819. (Includes a picture).

Martins, E.S. (1990). Boraginaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(4) Pages 81 - 82. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Argusia argentea:

External websites:

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


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: Argusia argentea.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=172340, retrieved 5 October 2024

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