Description:
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Perennial creeping or trailing herb with annual stems, up to c. 40 cm long, growing from a woody or fleshy rootstock. Leaves ovate-oblong, 1.5 - 10 cm long, hairless above, more or less hairy below, particularly on the veins, 3-7-veined from the base. Flowers solitary or 2-3 together, axillary; bracts leaf-like, up to 12 × 7 mm, ovate-elliptic to lanceolate. Perianth tube c. 20 mm long, greenish below, purplish above, swollen at the base; lip dark purple, narrowly oblong-elliptic, up to 3.5 cm long. Fruit a capsule, 1.5 - 3 m long, oblong cylindric, 6-ribbed, splitting into 6 segments while remaining on the plant, forming a "hanging basket". |
Literature:
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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 19.
Stannard, B.L. (1997). Aristolochiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(2) Page 23. (Includes a picture).
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