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Syncolostemon bracteosus
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (15)
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from Nhambita turn-off to entrance gate, Gorongosa National Park
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from Nhambita turn-off to entrance gate, Gorongosa National Park
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from Nhambita turn-off to entrance gate, Gorongosa National Park
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from Nhambita turn-off to entrance gate, Gorongosa National Park
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from Nhambita turn-off to entrance gate, Gorongosa National Park
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road from Nhambita turn-off to entrance gate, Gorongosa National Park
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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
| Synonyms: |
Hemizygia bracteosa (Benth.) Briq. Hemizygia junodii Briq. Ocimum bracteosum Benth. Orthosiphon bracteatus (Benth.) Baker Orthosiphon rhodesianus S. Moore |
| Common names: | Purple top (English) |
| Frequency: | Common |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Annual or perennial herb, up to 70 cm tall. Stems 4-angled with spreading greyish hairs. Leaves opposite, sessile, narrowly lanceolate, 4-10 cm long, pubescent on both surfaces; margin with small, widely spread teeth. Flowers in 5-12 more or less widely separated whorls, together appearing as a terminal inflorescence, topped by a crown of terminal bright purple, mauve or whitish bracts. Corolla white, sometimes with purple markings in the throat or on the upper lip. |
| Notes: | The flowers are small and fairly inconspicuous but the brightly coloured head of bracts often make this species a striking feature in the field. Sometimes, particularly in lower and drier habitats, plants appear to be weaker annual herbs, often with whitish bracts. |
| Derivation of specific name: | bracteosus: bearing (conspicuous) bracts; referring to the colourful bracts topping the inflorescence |
| Habitat: | In wooded grassland and open woodland. |
| Altitude range: | Up to 1600 m |
| Flowering time: | Oct - Apr |
| Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical and South Africa |
| Mozambique distribution: | N,Z,T,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: | Tuesday 5 June 2012 |
| Literature: |
Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Page 179. As Hemizygia bracteosa (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 150 - 151. as Hemizygia bracteosa (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. As Hemizygia bracteosa Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 394. as Hemizygia bracteosa (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 55. As Hemizygia bracteosa Paton, A.J. et al. (2013). Lamiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(8) Pages 142 - 144. (Includes a picture). Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 67. as Hemizygia bracteosa (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 78. as Hemizygia bracteosa Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 26. As Hemizygia bracteosa 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 215. as Hemizygia bracteosa |
Other sources of information about Syncolostemon bracteosus:
Our websites:
Flora of Botswana: Syncolostemon bracteosusFlora of Caprivi: Syncolostemon bracteosus
Flora of Malawi: Syncolostemon bracteosus
Flora of Zambia: Syncolostemon bracteosus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Syncolostemon bracteosus
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Syncolostemon bracteosusAfrican Plant Database: Syncolostemon bracteosus
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Syncolostemon bracteosus
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Syncolostemon bracteosus
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Syncolostemon bracteosus
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Syncolostemon bracteosus
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Syncolostemon bracteosus
JSTOR Plant Science: Syncolostemon bracteosus
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Syncolostemon bracteosus
Plants of the World Online: Syncolostemon bracteosus
Tropicos: Syncolostemon bracteosus
Wikipedia: Syncolostemon bracteosus
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