Justicia scandens Vahl

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Photo: Mark Hyde
By path from Mphingue to sawmill, Catapu

Photo: Bart Wursten
Khodzue River Gorge

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Synonyms:	Justicia glabra Roxb. Rhaphidospora glabra (Roxb.) Nees
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect or scandent perennial herb with several stems up to 1.3 m long, growing from a creeping rhizome. Leaves opposite, more or less broadly ovate to elliptic, largest 7-20 cm long but with many leaves smaller, finely velvety along the midrib and veins to almost hairless. Flowers in very lax axillary inflorescences. Peduncles, branches and pedicels more or less densely covered in stalked glands. Calyx 3-5mm long with linear-lanceolate lobes, finely velvety to almost hairless and with short stubby non-capitate glands. Corolla 6-9 mm long, white to pale yellow or yellowish-green with red to mauve markings at the base of the lower lip. Upper lip 3-5 mm long, flat or slightly hooded; lower lip deflexed, 4-5 mm long, deeply 3-lobed. Capsule 10-15 mm long, more or less sparsely velvety.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	scandens: scrambling or climbing, scandent.
Habitat:	In drier montane forest, usually on the margins, riverine forest, scrub and woodland and on termite mounds; at low to medium altitudes.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa, Madagascar and tropical Asia.
Mozambique distribution:	T,MS,GI
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:	Friday 22 September 2017
Literature:	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 19. Darbyshire, I., Vollesen, K. & Kelbessa, E. (2015). Acanthaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 8(6) Pages 168 - 170. (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 14. as Justicia glabra Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 18. as Justicia glabra

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Flora of Botswana: Justicia scandens
Flora of Caprivi: Justicia scandens
Flora of Malawi: Justicia scandens
Flora of Zambia: Justicia scandens
Flora of Zimbabwe: Justicia scandens

External websites:

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