Sclerochiton kirkii (T. Anderson) C. B. Clarke

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Small tributary gorge in Khodzue Gorge system

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Synonyms:	Acanthus kirkii T. Anderson
Common names:	Large-leaved Blue-lips (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small tree; young branches hairless. Leaves opposite, often one in a pair larger than the other, ovate-elliptic or slightly obovate, 15-28 cm long,pointed at the apex, base decurrent, sometimes to the base of the petiole;margin usually entire or minutely crenate-dentate; petiole mostly hidden by the decurrent leaf base,or op to 1 cm long. Flowers in racemes 6-9 cm long, Corolla bright blue, 3-4 cm in diameter. Capsule c.1.5 cm long.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	kirkii: named after Dr John Kirk, who accompanied David Livingstone on his Zambezi expedition of 1858
Habitat:	In low-altitude forest, moist woodland and on termite mounds.
Altitude range:	100 - 650 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,MS
Growth form(s):	Tree, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Thursday 10 May 2018
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 888. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 50. Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 1017. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 20. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 274. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 161. 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 15. Vollesen, K. (2013). Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 8(5) Page 49. White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen forest flora of Malawi Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Pages 118 - 119.

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Flora of Malawi: Sclerochiton kirkii
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African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Sclerochiton kirkii
African Plant Database: Sclerochiton kirkii
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Sclerochiton kirkii
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Wikipedia: Sclerochiton kirkii