Oreosyce africana Hook. f.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Ridge above Cavalo, Sanjunjira, Mt Gorongosa

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Synonyms:	Cucumis cecilii N.E. Br. Cucumis subsericeus Hook. f. Oreosyce triangularis Cogn.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Prostrate creeper or climber with simple tendrils. Stems, petioles and tendrils with rough, backwardly pointed, bristly hairs. Leaves up to 10 × 9.5 cm, triangular, to broadly ovate in outline, unlobed or fairly shallowly 3(5) lobed, more or less densely covered in bristly hairs on both surfaces, especially on the veins; lobes usually triangular; margins with small sinuate teeth; petiole 2.5-11.5 cm long. Flowers unisexual on the same plant, up to 1-2 cm in diameter, pale yellow. Male flowers in 3-6-flowered axillary clusters. Female flowers solitary on pedicels 3-10 mm long; ovary densely bristly hairy. Fruit ovoid to ellipsoid, 1.5-2.7 cm long, tuberculate, usually with a short beak, green or yellow.
Notes:	Although not cited for MS in FZ Vol. 4 (1978), both the specimens in the photographs (Ballings & Wursten 715, BR) and the only specimen from Mozambique at SRGH (Schelpe 417) are from Mt Gorongosa. This adds MS as a new division.
Derivation of specific name:	africana: African
Habitat:	Along margins of forest.
Altitude range:	800 - 2100 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, DRC, Bioko, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mpumalanga, South Africa. Also in Madagascar.
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,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:	Thursday 26 April 2012
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 135. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 27. 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 51. Jeffrey, C. (1978). Cucurbitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 471 - 472. (Includes a picture). Jeffrey, C. & Fernandes, R.B. (1986). 80. Cucurbitaceae Flora de Moçambique Junta de Investigaçoes de Ultramar, Centro de Botanica Page 82. 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 38. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 45. Reekmans, M. (1983). Cucurbitaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Page 465. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 53.

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Flora of Botswana: Oreosyce africana
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Flora of Zambia: Oreosyce africana
Flora of Zimbabwe: Oreosyce africana

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African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Oreosyce africana
African Plant Database: Oreosyce africana
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Wikipedia: Oreosyce africana