Melhania prostrata DC.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Tshabalala Nature Reserve, Bulawayo

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Synonyms:	Melhania didyma Eckl. & Zeyh. var. linearifolia Szyszył. Melhania linearifolia Sond. Melhania ovata Spreng. var. oblongata Hochst. ex K. Schum.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Perennial herb up to 60 cm tall, growing from a woody rootstock. Branches sometimes more or less prostrate but often ascending to suberect. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, up to 11 cm long, 3-veined from the base, dark green and hairless or very sparsely hairy above, densely greyish woolly and dotted with brown stellate hairs beneath; petiole up to 1 cm long; stipules up to 1.2 cm long. Flowers singly in the upper leaf axils. Epicalyx bracts narrowly ovate-acuminate, 1-1.5 cm long, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, densely greyish hairy. Sepals about the same length as the epicalyx. Petals broadly ovate, as long as the sepals, yellow. Fruit ovoid, up to 1 cm in diameter, hairy.
Notes:	Very similar to Melhania randii but distinguished by the leaves being hairless above, longer epicalyx bracts and seeds with a reticulate testa.
Derivation of specific name:	prostrata: lying flat on the ground; prostrate. A misleading name since the branches are often ascending to suberect.
Habitat:	In dry woodland, often with Acacia.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, FreeState, NorthWest, Northern Cape, South Africa.
Mozambique distribution:	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:	Monday 8 February 2016
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 25. Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 221. (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 80. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 107. Wild, H. (1960-1). Sterculiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(2) Page 530.

Other sources of information about Melhania prostrata:

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Flora of Botswana: Melhania prostrata
Flora of Zimbabwe: Melhania prostrata

External websites:

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