Biophytum sensitivum (L.) DC.

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Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Chipili area, below Kalonde Falls, Kawambwa Distr., Luapula Province

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Synonyms:	Biophytum helenae Buscal. & Muschl. Oxalis sensitiva L.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Annual terrestrial herb, 10-40 cm growing on a simple slender to stout stem with a single rosette of leaves at the apex; leaves 3-13 cm long composed of up to 21 pairs of leaflets, 3-8 x 2.5-5 mm, subsessile, slightly obliquely square to oblong, appressed pilose or pubescent, rhachis pilose; flowers white, pink, lilac or yellow in 3-10-flowered pseudoumbels, peduncle up to 13 cm long, pubescent, pedicels up to 6 mm long, pubescent; sepals 4-5 x 1-1.5 mm, narrowly lanceolate, 3-5 nerved, pubescent; petals 7-8 mm long, spathulate, glabrous; stamens with 5 longer ones 3 mm long and 5 shorter ones 1.5 mm long; ovary deeply 5-lobed; styles 1-3 mm long, pubescent; capsule 3 x 2 mm, obovate-ellipsoid; seeds 0.5 x 0.3 mm, flattened-ellipsoid, minutely tuberculate, brown.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	sensitivum: sensitive, likely referring to the leaflets sensitivity to touching.
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Sep - Jun
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in the tropics of the Old World
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Exell, A.W. (1963). Oxalidaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 157 - 158. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 142.

Other sources of information about Biophytum sensitivum:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Biophytum sensitivum
Flora of Zambia: Biophytum sensitivum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Biophytum sensitivum
African Plant Database: Biophytum sensitivum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Biophytum sensitivum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Biophytum sensitivum
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Biophytum sensitivum
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Biophytum sensitivum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Biophytum sensitivum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network): Biophytum sensitivum
iNaturalist: Biophytum sensitivum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Biophytum sensitivum
JSTOR Plant Science: Biophytum sensitivum
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Biophytum sensitivum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Biophytum sensitivum
Plants of the World Online: Biophytum sensitivum
Tropicos: Biophytum sensitivum
Wikipedia: Biophytum sensitivum