Ceratotheca triloba (Bernh.) Hook. f.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Mbizi Game Park, Epworth Harare

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyanyadzi, Save Valley

Photo: Bart Wursten
Below dam wall, Cleveland Dam

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along Zvishavane - Mbalabala road

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Synonyms:	Ceratotheca lamiifolia (Engl.) Engl. Sesamum lamiifolium Engl. Sporledera kraussiana Bernh. Sporledera triloba Bernh.
Common names:	African foxglove (English) False foxglove (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Tall annual or perennial herb, up to 1.5 m or more, unpleasantly scented when crushed. Stems hairy. Leaves variously 3-lobed, up to 15 cm long and wide, pubescent, broadly cordate at the base; margin coarsely crenate; petiole up to 13 cm long. Flowers 2- 6 cm long, lilac or cream with darker purple stripes in the throat and on the lower lip. Capsule 1.5-2.8 cm long, only slightly laterally compressed, with horns c. 8 mm long, broadly triangular at the base.
Notes:	The English names refer to the similarity to the common foxglove of Europe, Digitalis purpurea to which it is not related. Though the leaves have an unpleasant scent when crushed this disappears with boiling and they are used as a spinach.
Derivation of specific name:	triloba: 3-lobed
Habitat:	In open, sandy areas, often in disturbed vegetation.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Nov - May
Worldwide distribution:	Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa
Mozambique distribution:	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:	Wednesday 7 May 2008
Literature:	Bandeira, S., Bolnick, D. & Barbosa, F. (2007). Wild Flowers of Southern Mozambique Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique Pages 185 - 186. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 7. Ihlenfeldt, H.-D. (1988). Pedaliaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(3) Pages 96 - 97. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 285. (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 66. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 91. (Includes a picture). Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 118, plate 160 Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 91.

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Flora of Botswana: Ceratotheca triloba
Flora of Zambia: Ceratotheca triloba
Flora of Zimbabwe: Ceratotheca triloba

External websites:

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