Pemphis acidula J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.

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Photo: Warren McCleland
Just north of Quiterajo

Photo: Sune Holt
Vilankulo, Inhambane, Mozambique

Photo: Warren McCleland
23 km south-east of Inhassoro

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Synonyms:	Lythrum pemphis L. f. Melanium fruticosum Spreng.
Common names:	Gama (English)
Frequency:	Locally common
Status:	Native
Description:	Shrub or small tree; branches with thickened leaf nodes. Leaves opposite, ovate-oblong to linear-lanceolate, 1-3.2 CM long, the single vein prominent beneath. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils on pedicels 5-13 mm long. Calyx with a 12-grooved tube 4-7 mm long and short erect lobes c. 2 mm long. Petals 6, obovate, shortly clawed, 6 mm long, white or rarely violet. Capsule c. 5 mm in diameter.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	On dunes and coral rocks, in and along the fringes of mangrove swamps.
Altitude range:	Up to 10 m
Flowering time:	All year
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread along the coasts of East Africa, Asia and Australia.
Mozambique distribution:	N,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:	Thursday 14 June 2018
Literature:	Beentje, H. & Bandeira, S. (2007). Field Guide to the Mangrove trees of Africa and Madagascar Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK ISBN 978-184246-135-8 Pages 62 - 63. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 656. (Includes a picture). Fernandes, A. (1978). Lythraceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 281 - 282. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Pemphis acidula:

External websites:

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