Walleria nutans J. Kirk

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Great Dyke, nr Kopje Tops, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

Photo: Bart Wursten
Kopje Tops, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

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

Synonyms:	Walleria hockii De Wild. Walleria muricata N.E. Br.
Common names:
Frequency:	Locally frequent
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect perennial herb up to c. 30 cm tall, growing from 1-5 subspherical tubers, which are often buried up to 20 cm underground. Stem simple or sometimes up to 3-branched, hairless, strongly ribbed, scabrid or sometimes scattered recurved prickles. Leaves along the stem, sessile, linear-lanceolate, up to 17 cm long, longest higher up the stem, sometimes with recurved prickles on the midrib beneath and on the margin. Flowers on peduncles 2-5 cm long, nodding. Tepals white, pink, mauve, purple or blue, spreading, 6-15 mm long. Stamens yellow with blue or purple tips, tightly held together. Fruit a globose capsule, 8-17 mm in diameter, surrounded by the persistent perianth, green, yellow or orange.
Notes:	The flower, at first glance resembles a species of Solanum but, being a monocot, has 6 tepals in stead of 5 corolla lobes.
Derivation of specific name:	nutans: nodding.
Habitat:	On sandy soils in mixed deciduous woodland, grassland, rocky outcrops, dry riverbeds, sometimes in cleared areas.
Altitude range: (metres)	950 - 1700 m
Flowering time:	Nov - Dec
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, northern South Africa, Botwana, Namibia.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,C,E
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:	Monday 13 February 2012
Literature:	Cowley, E.J. & Brummitt, R.K. (2001). Tecophilaeaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(3) Page 19. Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 80 - 81. (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 112. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 138. 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 Walleria nutans:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Walleria nutans
Flora of Zambia: Walleria nutans

External websites:

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