Stachys aethiopica L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Plateau below Nhandore Peak, Mt Gorongosa

Photo: Bart Wursten
Northwestern slopes below Mt Dombe, Chimanimani Mts

Photo: Bart Wursten
Small valley North-east of Mt Binga, Chimanimani Mts

Photo: Bart Wursten
Mt Gorongosa

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Synonyms:	Stachys serrulata Benth.
Common names:
Frequency:	Locally frequent
Status:	Native
Description:	Straggling or ascending perennial herb, up to 1 m high, with an unpleasant smell. Stems quadrangular, branching above, densely pubescent with short and long hairs, some glandular. Leaves more or less broadly ovate, 11-65 mm long, usually cordate at the base, almost hairless or densely pubescent like the stems; margin crenate; petiole 1 to 4 cm long. Inflorescence lax with up to 12, 2-6-flowered, widely separated clusters per branch. Calyx 4-7 mm long, extending to 9 mm in fruit; teeth narrowly triangular, 1.5-3.5 mm long, somewhat spiny, straight or recurved. Corolla 10-16 mm long, white or pale pinkish-mauve, usually with purple markings on the lower lip; upper lip 2-6 mm long, densely pubescent outside; lower lip 5-9 mm long, pubescent outside. Nutlets ovoid, 1.5-2 mm long, dark brown, minutely tuberculate.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	aethiopica : of Ethiopia, a historic name for large parts of Africa. This particular taxon does not occur in modern Ethiopia.
Habitat:	Along streams, forest edges, clearings and mountain roadsides.
Altitude range:	800 - 2400 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and South Africa as far as Western Cape.
Mozambique distribution:	Z,MS,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:	Thursday 2 June 2022
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 57. Paton, A.J. et al. (2013). Lamiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(8) Pages 39 - 41. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 93.

Other sources of information about Stachys aethiopica:

Our websites:

Flora of Zimbabwe: Stachys aethiopica

External websites:

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