Gomphostigma virgatum (L.f.) Baill.

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (3)

Gomphostigma virgatum

Photo: Arthur Murray Harmsworth
Mshagashe river, just below the weir close to Mshagashe waterworks/S.P.C.A. Masvingo.

Gomphostigma virgatum

Photo: Arthur Murray Harmsworth
Mshagashe river, just below the weir close to Mshagashe waterworks/S.P.C.A. Masvingo.

Gomphostigma virgatum

Photo: Arthur Murray Harmsworth
Mshagashe river, just below the weir close to Mshagashe waterworks/S.P.C.A. Masvingo.

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

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

Synonyms: Buddleja virgata L.f.
Gomphostigma scorpoides Turcz.
Sopubia eenei S. Moore
Sopubia leposa S. Moore
Common names: Otter-bush (English)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Small shrub, usually less than 2 m high, most parts often covered with silvery stellate scales. Bark shallowly longitudinally fissured. Leaves opposite with a connecting ridge, narrowly oblong, rarely narrowly obovate, 5–80 mm long; margin entire or sometimes remotely and obscurely toothed, usually rolled under. Inflorescence terminal, 3–15 cm long. Pedicels 2–12 mm long. Flowers white, rarely blue or pink, scented, hairless outside hairy inside in the tube and at the base of the lobes. Capsule 3–8·5 mm long.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: virgatum: twiggy
Habitat: Along and in watercourses, among boulders in flowing water, in sand or mud along riverbanks.
Altitude range: (metres) 600 - 2000 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Angola, Southern DRC, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution: N,W,C,E,S
Growth form(s): Perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Sunday 21 July 2019
Literature:

Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 19.

Coates Palgrave, K. (revised and updated by Meg Coates Palgrave) (2002). Trees of Southern Africa 3rd edition. Struik, South Africa Page 936.

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 268.

Leeuwenberg, A.J.M. (1983). Loganiaceae (inc. Buddlejaceae) Flora Zambesiaca 7(1) Pages 344 - 345. (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 58. Under Loganiaceae

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 41.

White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia Oxford Univ. Press. Page 378. As Sopubia leprosa


Other sources of information about Gomphostigma virgatum:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Gomphostigma virgatum
Flora of Zambia: Gomphostigma virgatum

External websites:

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


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: Gomphostigma virgatum.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=144500, retrieved 19 March 2024

Site software last modified: 26 March 2018 2:01pm (GMT +2)
Terms of use