Murdannia simplex (Vahl) Brenan

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Murdannia simplex

Picture: Bart Wursten
Below Udu Dam, Rd to Nyangombe Falls, Nyanga NP

Murdannia simplex

Picture: Bart Wursten
Kopje Tops, Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

Murdannia simplex

Picture: Bart Wursten
Road from Mt Selinda to Espungabera border post

Murdannia simplex

Picture: Neil Crouch
Red Wall Cave area, Chimanimani

Murdannia simplex

Picture: Neil Crouch
Red Wall Cave area, Chimanimani

Murdannia simplex

Picture: Bart Wursten
Nyangombe Swimming Pool, Nyanga National Park.

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

Synonyms: Aneilema sinicum Ker-Gawl.
Commelina simplex Vahl
Common names:
Frequency: Frequent
Status: Native
Description:
Perennial herb, 30-60 cm. Leaves 3-4, mostly basal; lamina up to 20 × 1 cm, linear, glabrous, but ciliate towards the base; basal part sheathing. Inflorescence bearing scars of early flowers. Flowers opening in late afternoon. Petals 3, equal, obovate, c.10 mm. Stamens: 2 upper, fertile and curved downwards, the third sterile; filaments with long purple, beaded hairs. Staminodes 3 with glabrous filaments, the empty anthers yellow and 3-lobed. Capsule oblong-spherical, c.6 mm. Seeds oblong-spherical, 1.5 mm, the transverse ribs tuberculate, reticulate.
Type location:
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: simplex: undivided, entire
Habitat: In grassland, woodland, on rocky outcrops, along roadsides and on the edges of marshes, dams and rivers.
Altitude range: Up to 2100 m
Flowering time:Dec-Mar
Worldwide distribution: Widespread in tropical Africa, South Africa and Madagascar. Also in tropical Asia but this may still prove to be a separate taxon.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): N,C,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces): C,Lk,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Saturday 19 May 2012
Literature:

Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 242 - 243. (Includes a picture).

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 297. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 39.

Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 26.

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 122.

Faden, R. (2012). Commelinaceae Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 51 - 54. (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 87.

Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Pages 37 - 38. (Includes a picture).

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 108.

Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 340 - 341. (Includes a picture).

Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 25.

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 71.

Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 82.

Other sources of information about Murdannia simplex:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Murdannia simplex
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Murdannia simplex
Flora of Malawi: Murdannia simplex
Flora of Mozambique: Murdannia simplex
Flora of Zimbabwe: Murdannia simplex

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mike Bingham, Annette Willemen, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Mark Hyde, 2011-24

Bingham, M.G., Willemen, A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. and Hyde, M.A. (2024). Flora of Zambia: Species information: Murdannia simplex.
https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=112850, retrieved 19 March 2024

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