Hygrophila pilosa
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Borrowdale Common, nr cnr Lanner Ave/Teviotdale Ave
Photo: Bart Wursten
Borrowdale Common, nr cnr Lanner Ave/Teviotdale Ave
Photo: Bart Wursten
Borrowdale Common, nr cnr Lanner Ave/Teviotdale Ave
Photo: Bart Wursten
Borrowdale Common, nr cnr Lanner Ave/Teviotdale Ave
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Hygrophila acinos (S.Moore) Heine |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | |
| Description: |
Decumbent, much-branched herb, up to 20 cm. Leaves ovate, glandular-pubescent, apex acute, base slightly cordate, sessile or very shortly petiolate (1 mm). Flowers in axillary pedunculate clusters of 1-several flowers, subtended by bracts, which resemble the leaves. Calyx lobes 5, connate below, one spathulate, 5-6 mm and c.3 mm wide, the other 4 linear, slightly shorter. Corolla ± erect, c.1 cm; upper lip erect, pale purple to almost white, lower lip reflexed with 3 lobes, purple with orange-brown bulges at the throat. Stamens 4. Capsule linear, pubescent. |
| Type location: |
Malawi, lectotype from Zambia |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | pilosa: pilose, with long soft hairs |
| Habitat: | |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | Aug - Sep |
| Worldwide distribution: | Angola, Botswana, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe |
| Botanical divisions: | |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
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. Meerts, P. et al. (2026). A checklist of the vascular plants of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. PhytoKeys 277 Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 18. Vollesen, K. (2013). Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 8(5) Pages 110 - 111. |
Other sources of information about Hygrophila pilosa:
Our websites:
Flora of Botswana: Hygrophila pilosaFlora of Caprivi: Hygrophila pilosa
Flora of Malawi: Hygrophila pilosa
Flora of Zambia: Hygrophila pilosa
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hygrophila pilosa
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Hygrophila pilosaAfrican Plant Database: Hygrophila pilosa
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Hygrophila pilosa
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Hygrophila pilosa
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Hygrophila pilosa
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Hygrophila pilosa
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Hygrophila pilosa
JSTOR Plant Science: Hygrophila pilosa
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Hygrophila pilosa
Plants of the World Online: Hygrophila pilosa
Tropicos: Hygrophila pilosa
Wikipedia: Hygrophila pilosa