Xerophyta humilis (Baker) T. Durand & Schinz

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Photo: Bart Wursten
By main Harare to Bulawayo Rd

Photo: Bart Wursten
Besna Kobila Estate, Matobo

Photo: Bart Wursten
Monavale Vlei

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Synonyms:	Vellozia humilis Baker Vellozia minuta Baker
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Low-growing perennial, less than 15 cm tall, growing from a horizontal rhizome, up to 7 cm long, sometimes mat-forming. Leaves in a basal tuft, stiff-leathery, linear-lanceolate up to c. 15 cm long, hairless; margin and keel with minute teeth. Flowers 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter, white, pale yellow, mauve, pink or blue with dark purple glands on the outside of the perianth lobes, solitary or 2 together on 1-several purplish, glandular stalks up to 13 cm long.
Notes:	This is our smallest species by far of Xerophyta.
Derivation of specific name:	humilis: low-growing or dwarf
Habitat:	In shallow soils in Mopane, Acacia or miombo woodland and grassland.
Altitude range: (metres)	Up to 1615 m
Flowering time:	Dec - Apr
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Sudan, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and North-West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,C,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:	Saturday 6 January 2018
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 44. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 37. Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 80 - 81. (Includes a picture). Gonçalves, A.E. (2009). Velloziaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(2) Pages 162 - 163. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 61. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 332. (Includes a picture). Linley, K. & Baker, B. (1972). Flowers of the Veld Bundu Series Longman Zimbabwe Page 23. as Vellozia humilis 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 112. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 138. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 113. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 148.

Other sources of information about Xerophyta humilis:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Xerophyta humilis
Flora of Mozambique: Xerophyta humilis
Flora of Zambia: Xerophyta humilis

External websites:

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