Thunbergia usambarica Lindau

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Thunbergia usambarica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Higher slopes below Nhandore peak, Mt Gorongosa

Thunbergia usambarica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Forest on slopes below Nhandore peak, Mt Gorongosa

Thunbergia usambarica

Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Just below Carvalho's mansion, Mt Tsetsera

Thunbergia usambarica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Gorongosa

Thunbergia usambarica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Gorongosa

Thunbergia usambarica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Gorongosa

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

Synonyms: Thunbergia swynnertonii S. Moore
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Erect or semi-prostrate perennial. Stems several, up to 1 m long, 4-angled, arising from a creeping rootstock. Leaves: petiole 2-11 cm long; lamina ovate, rarely oblong-lanceolate, up to 8-16 × 4-11 cm, glossy, palmately veined, glabrous to densely puberulous and sometimes with longer setose hairs; base cordate with hastate lobes; margin crenate to coarsely toothed with up to 7 teeth on each side. Flowers solitary or in racemes arising from lower axils. Bracteoles 0.9-2.5 cm, pale green with conspicuous dark green reticulation. Calyx 1-3 mm long. Corolla white (rarely pale blue); throat yellow; tube 2-3.5 cm long. Capsule 7-10 mm wide; beak 10-18 mm long.
Type location:
Notes: Formerly included as a form of Thunbergia petersiana but now separated on the basis of the white flowers, the shorter corolla tube and the different habitat and altitude range.
Derivation of specific name: usambarica: after the Usambara mountains in Tanzania where the type specimen, Holst 215, was collected in 1891.
Habitat: In montane forest, in clearings and at the margins, at higher altitudes (above 1100 m)
Altitude range: (metres) Above 1100 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: From Congo, Burundi southwards through East Africa to Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa.
FZ divisions: N,T,MS
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Wednesday 1 June 2022
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 20. As Thunbergia swynnertonii

Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 43.

Vollesen, K. (2013). Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 8(5) Pages 36 - 37.


Other sources of information about Thunbergia usambarica:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Thunbergia usambarica
Flora of Malawi: Thunbergia usambarica
Flora of Zimbabwe: Thunbergia usambarica

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2007-25

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2025). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Thunbergia usambarica.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=185070, retrieved 18 June 2025

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