Synonyms: |
Borreria princeae K. Schum. Diodia stipulosa S. Moore Spermacoce princeae (K.Schum.) Verdc. var. mwinilungae Verdc. Spermacoce princeae (K.Schum.) Verdc. var. pubescens (hepper) Verdc. |
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Description: |
Scrambling or decumbent, much branched perennial herb, 0.3–1.5 m long; stems often dark crimson, square, sparsely to densely hairy on the angles. Leaves subsessile, elliptic to ovate, 1.2–7 cm long, hairless or with sparse hairs beneath on the margins; venation much impressed. Stipules with base 4–6 mm long, hairy at least above, with 5–9 fimbriae 7–8.5 mm long. Flowers in dense few- to many-flowered axillary clusters at most nodes; bracts like stipules with fimbriae 6 mm. long. Calyx tube 1.2–3 mm long; lobes 4, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, with pubescent margins. Corolla white, sometimes pinkish tinged; tube 5–10.5 mm long, cylindrical or narrowly funnel-shaped; lobes oblong or elliptic, 3-6 mm long. Capsule oblong-ellipsoid, 5–6 mm long, valves opening widely, finely transversely wrinkled, hairless or finely pubescent, crowned with the persistent calyx lobes. |
Type location: |
Tanzania |
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Worldwide distribution: | Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe (See note). |
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Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 106 - 107. as var. pubescens (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 255. as var. princeae (Includes a picture). Fischer, E. & Killmann, D. (2008). Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Page 410. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 93. as var. princeae and var. pubescens Verdcourt, B. (1988). Rubiaceae, Part 1 Flora Zambesiaca 5(1) Page 179. as var. princeae, var. mwinilungae and var. pubescens |