Dicliptera verticillata (Forssk.) C. Chr.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
EO Wilson Science Area, Chitengo Camp, Gorongosa National Park.

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Synonyms:	Dicliptera spinulosa Hochst. ex K. Balkwill
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect or decumbent annual herb with opposite and decussate, widely spreading branches. Leaves often absent at flowering time; lamina 1.5-7 cm, ovate or elliptic. Inflorescences axillary, consisting of 2-3 umbels of 3-5 cymules per axil, developing at the lowermost stem nodes, becoming compound and forming dense axillary fascicles. Cymule bracts with length to width ratio 1.2-1.5:1; larger bract 5-8.5 mm long. Corolla 4-6 mm long, pink to purple, often found in bud only and then probably cleistogamous. Seeds with minute hooked tubercles.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	verticillata: arranged in whorls
Habitat:	In disturbed ground, sometimes in bare shady places where little else will grow, e.g. under trees.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Jun - Aug
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical and South Africa; also in Madagascar, tropical Arabia and India
Mozambique distribution:	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:	Wednesday 28 July 2021
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 48. (Includes a picture). Darbyshire, I., Vollesen, K. & Kelbessa, E. (2015). Acanthaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 8(6) Pages 262 - 263. 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 13. as Dicliptera spinulosa Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 18. also as Dicliptera spinulosa

Other sources of information about Dicliptera verticillata:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Dicliptera verticillata
Flora of Malawi: Dicliptera verticillata
Flora of Zambia: Dicliptera verticillata
Flora of Zimbabwe: Dicliptera verticillata

External websites:

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