Rubia cordifolia L.
subsp. conotricha (Gand.) Verdc.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
La Rochelle, kopje behind hotel

Photo: Bart Wursten
Kaperekeza road, Nyika National Park

Photo: Bart Wursten
Morumbodzi Falls,lower slopes Mt Gorongosa

Photo: Aaron Ntambiyukuri
Gishwati Forest National Park

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

Synonyms:	Rubia conotricha Gand. Rubia longipetiolata Bullock
Common names:	Sticky-leaved rubia (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Scrambling or climbing herb. Stems up to 6m long, distinctly 4-ribbed, covered in minute recurved prickles. Leaves 4-whorled, rarely 3 or 5, lanceolate to broadly ovate, 2-7 cm long, more or less cordate at the base, generally with 5 prominent veins; margin and veins below with minute recurved prickles; petiole 15-100 mm long, set with minute recurved prickles. Flowers 3-6 mm in diameter, greenish, in axillary inflorescences. Fruits purple-black, each mericarp 2.5-4 mm in diameter.
Type location:	South Africa
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	cordifolia: with cordate (heart-shaped) leaves
Habitat:	In margins and clearings of forest and scrub and in high rainfall miombo woodland, often in rocky situations.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Mar - Dec
Worldwide distribution:	From tropical East Africa to Eastern Cape South Africa. Also in Angola.
Botanical divisions:
Growth form(s):	Climber, perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Macroglossum trochilus (Larval foodplant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 252. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 48. 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 74. Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 227. Verdcourt, B. (1988). Rubiaceae, Part 1 Flora Zambesiaca 5(1) Pages 193 - 195. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 99.

Other sources of information about Rubia cordifolia subsp. conotricha:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Rubia cordifolia subsp. conotricha
Flora of Malawi: Rubia cordifolia subsp. conotricha
Flora of Mozambique: Rubia cordifolia subsp. conotricha
Flora of Rwanda: Rubia cordifolia subsp. conotricha
Flora of Zambia: Rubia cordifolia subsp. conotricha
Flora of Zimbabwe: Rubia cordifolia subsp. conotricha

External websites:

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

Rubia cordifolia L. subsp. conotricha (Gand.) Verdc.