Achyranthes aspera L.
var. pubescens (Moq.) C.C. Towns.

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (12)

Photo: Bart Wursten
Vunduzi River, opposite bank from Bunga Camp, Gorongosa National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road to Mpawe Village,Coutada 12, Cheringoma

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

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

Synonyms:
Common names:	Burweed (English) Chaff-flower (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Probably introduced
Description:	Stout perennial herb. Leaves oblong-elliptic, pointed at the apex, variably hairless or hairy but not appressed silvery hairy beneath. Inflorescences up to 35 cm long; flowers with perianth segments 4-7 mm long, greenish to purple-red.
Notes:	Var. pubescens is a more robust plant with larger and more colourful flowers than var. sicula, a slender scrambling herb with silvery undersides to the undersurface of the young leaves.
Derivation of specific name:	aspera: rough
Habitat:	Widespread weed of disturbed and cultivated areas but also in understorey of forest, woodland and grassland, on floodplains and termite mounds.
Altitude range:	30 - 1500 m
Flowering time:	Oct - May
Worldwide distribution:	Pantropical and subtropical with its origins uncertain.
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,MS,GI,M
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 20 May 2018
Literature:	Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 78 - 79. (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 56. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 2. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 150. (Includes a picture). 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 15. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 20. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 20. Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 36. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 195. as Achyranthes aspera Timberlake, J.R., Bayliss, J., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Congdon, C., Branch, B., Collins, S., Curran, M., Dowsett, R,J., Fishpool, L., Francisco, J., Harris, Kopp, M. & de Sousa, C. (2012). Mt Mabu, Mozambique: Biodiversity and Conservation Report produced under the Darwin Initiative Award 15/036. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London Page 72. Townsend, C.C. (1988). Amaranthaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(1) Pages 106 - 109. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 25. as Achyranthes aspera (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Achyranthes aspera var. pubescens:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Achyranthes aspera var. pubescens
Flora of Caprivi: Achyranthes aspera var. pubescens
Flora of Malawi: Achyranthes aspera var. pubescens
Flora of Zambia: Achyranthes aspera var. pubescens
Flora of Zimbabwe: Achyranthes aspera var. pubescens

External websites:

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