Phyllanthus pinnatus (Wight) G.L. Webster

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Phyllanthus pinnatus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Sand Forest, Gorongosa National Park Loop

Phyllanthus pinnatus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Sand Forest, Gorongosa National Park Loop

Phyllanthus pinnatus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Sand forest loop, Gorongosa National Park.

Phyllanthus pinnatus

Photo: Bart Wursten
Sand forest loop, Gorongosa National Park.

Phyllanthus pinnatus

Photo: Fraser Gear
Sand forest loop, Gorongosa National Park.

Phyllanthus pinnatus

Photo: Fraser Gear
Sand forest loop, Gorongosa National Park.

Phyllanthus pinnatus

Photo: Fraser Gear
Sand forest loop, Gorongosa National Park.

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Chorisandra pinnata Wight
Phyllanthus kirkianus Müll. Arg.
Phyllanthus senensis Müll. Arg.
Common names: Lebombo potato-bush (English) Mopane potato bush (English) Sand potato bush (English)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Deciduous shrub or small tree. Bark smooth, mottled grey, sometimes flaking. Leaves alternate along lateral branchlets, giving the impression of compound leaves, elliptic to oblong, usually 1-2 cm long. Flowers in fragrant clusters (male) or solitary (female) on older branchlets, yellowish-green, unisexual on different plants, flowering before the new leaves. Female flowers solitary along very thin branchlets appearing as racemes. Fruit a 3-lobed capsule, c. 10 mm in diameter, yellowish.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: pinnatus: pinnate, referring to the resemblance of the branchlets to pinnate leaves.
Habitat: In hot, dry woodland, on sandy soils, often among rocks.
Altitude range: (metres) Up to 1625 m
Flowering time:Sep - Nov
Worldwide distribution: Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique,Limpopo and Mpumalanga, South Africa. Also in India and Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe distribution: N,E,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Friday 25 December 2015
Literature:

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 417. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 44.

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 251. As Phyllanthus kirkianus

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 42.

Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 41 - 42.


Other sources of information about Phyllanthus pinnatus:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Phyllanthus pinnatus
Flora of Mozambique: Phyllanthus pinnatus

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Phyllanthus pinnatus.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=134340, retrieved 19 March 2024

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