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Synonyms: |
Plectranthus esculentus N.E. Br. Plectranthus floribundus N.E. Br. |
Common names: | Finger potato (English) Livingstone potato (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Perennial herb or suffrutex with long arching, woody, sparsely branched stems. Leaves subsessile, oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, thick-textured with brown gland-dots on the under surface; margin obscurely toothed. Inflorescences erect along the stems, flowering before any leaves appear. Flowers bright yellow. The tuberous roots are edible. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | esculentus: edible |
Habitat: | In rocky areas in woodland. |
Altitude range: | 800 - 2200 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution: | Mali Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola and South Africa. |
Mozambique distribution: | N,Z,T,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: | Thursday 15 May 2008 |
Literature: |
Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 188. as Plectranthus esculentus Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 44. as Plectranthus esculentus Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 29. as Plectranthus esculentus Kujeke, G.T., Masekesa, R.T., Icishahayo, D., Ngadze, E. & Mazarura, U. (2015). A Survey of the Production Practices of Livingstone Potato (Plectranthus esculentus), an Indigenous and Underutilised Vegetable in Zimbabwe Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International 4(4) Pages 175 - 187. as Plectranthus esculentus 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 56. as Plectranthus esculentus Paton, A.J. et al. (2013). Lamiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(8) Pages 240 - 241. as Plectranthus esculentus Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 79. as Plectranthus esculentus Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 113. as Plectranthus esculentus longipes |
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