Micrococca mercurialis (L.) Benth.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhago Camp, Coutada 12, Cheringoma

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Synonyms:	Claoxylon mercuriale Thwaites Mercurialis alternifolia Lam. Tragia mercurialis L.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect or procumbent annual herb up to c. 50 cm tall. Leaves alternate, elliptic-ovate, 2-7 cm long, pale green, often purple-tinged, with 4-7 pairs of ascending lateral veins ending at the margin; margin scalloped. Inflorescences up to 7.5 cm long, axillary, spike-like, containing male and female flowers. Flowers greenish-yellow with a purplish disk. Fruit ovoid-subspherical, 3-lobed, up to 3 × 5.5 mm, with sparse bristly hairs, bluish-green, drying to dark purple.
Notes:	The specimen in the images (Wursten BW1505, EOWBL) appears to be the first record from the Manica-Sofala Division (MS).
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In seasonally waterlogged alluvium clay in mopane woodland, low stony hills and kopjes or as a weed of disturbed ground and cultivation.
Altitude range:	70 - 1300 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	More or less throughout tropical Africa. Also in Yemen, Madagascar, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and N. Australia.
Mozambique distribution:	N,MS
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:	Saturday 30 April 2016
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 42. Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 176 - 177. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 58.

Other sources of information about Micrococca mercurialis:

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Flora of Botswana: Micrococca mercurialis
Flora of Burundi: Micrococca mercurialis
Flora of Caprivi: Micrococca mercurialis
Flora of Malawi: Micrococca mercurialis
Flora of Zambia: Micrococca mercurialis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Micrococca mercurialis

External websites:

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