Barleria molensis Wild

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (13)

Photo: Arthur Murray Harmsworth
Close to Muzhwi Dam wall (near Mashava), Zimbabwe

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road at Vanguard Mine, Mberengwa

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

Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:	Local
Status:	Native
Description:	Spreading small, spiny shrub, 40-100 cm high, quite woody at the base; younger branches, sticky glandular. Leaves elliptic to obovate, 1.5-3.7 cm long, densely glandular hairy; petiole 0-5 mm. Flowers axillary, usually single; bracteoles spine-like, 15-33 mm long. Enlarged calyx lobes oblong-elliptic to obovate, one lobe sometimes lanceolate, 17-26 mm long, with a spine-like tip, densely glandular hairy; margin entire or minutely toothed. Corolla 51-85 mm long, white fading to pale blue, drying to dark purple-blue or almost black; glandular hairy outside; tube variable in length, 36-65 mm long; lobes 2 above and 3 below, upper lobes slightly smaller than lower. Capsule 20-25 mm long, hairless except for a tuft of hairs at the apex.
Notes:	The length of the tube can vary considerably in length, even in flowers within the same population. Flowers often open only in the late afternoon which may indicate that the species could be moth pollinated.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Open deciduous bushland on stony slopes
Altitude range: (metres)	900 - 1400 m
Flowering time:	Jan - Jun
Worldwide distribution:	Restricted to the Great Dyke, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe distribution:	C,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:	Endemic
Red data list status:	Vulnerable
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Saturday 12 December 2020
Literature:	Darbyshire, I., Vollesen, K. & Kelbessa, E. (2015). Acanthaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 8(6) Pages 59 - 60. Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 171. As LR-lc Mapaura, A. (2002). Endemic Plant Species of Zimbabwe. Kirkia 18(1) Page 131. 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 13. Wild, H. (1965). The Flora of the Great Dyke of Southern Rhodesia with special reference to the Serpentine soils. Kirkia 5(1) Pages 80 - 81. Protologue

Other sources of information about Barleria molensis:

External websites:

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