Pycnostachys orthodonta Gürke

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Along track from Zamambo Gorge to rangerpost, Gorongosa National Park, Cheringoma.

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Synonyms:	Pycnostachys bussei Gürke Pycnostachys cyanea Gürke Pycnostachys hanningtonii Baker Pycnostachys leptophylla Baker
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Mostly annual herb 50–100 cm tall. Stems erect, branching, quadrangular4-angled, pubescent with short hairs and red sessile glands. Leaves opposite broadly to narrowly ovate, 40–135 mm long, apex acuminate, base shortly running down petiole, with red or yellow sessile glands below, pubescent with short stiff hairs mostly on the serrate margin and venation; petiole 10–55 mm long. Inflorescence usually dense, forming a narrow conical shape in flower, 50–145 mm long in fruit; flowers sessile in single-flowered cymes; bracts subtending entire inflorescence ovate 15–50 mm long, acute, enclosing buds but becoming deflexed in flower, persistent through flowering stage; bracts subtending individual flowers linear-lanceolate, 3–4 mm long, ciliate with hairs shorter than bract width. Corolla pale blue or lavender, 11–17 mm long; tube very narrow and parallel-sided for 4–8 mm, curved sharply down and broadening for c.3 mm before opening into two lips; posterior lip much shorter than anterior, 1–2 mm long; anterior lip 4–8 mm long, 2–4.5 mm deep. Nutlets c.1 mm long.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In mopane, miombo and mixed woodland, in disturbed ground, by rivers and lakes.
Altitude range: (metres)	Up to 1500 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,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:	Friday 1 April 2016
Literature:	Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 146 - 147. (Includes a picture). Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 79. 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 56. Paton, A.J. et al. (2013). Lamiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(8) Pages 328 - 329. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 71.

Other sources of information about Pycnostachys orthodonta:

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Flora of Malawi: Pycnostachys orthodonta
Flora of Mozambique: Pycnostachys orthodonta
Flora of Zambia: Pycnostachys orthodonta

External websites:

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