Hesperantha petitiana (A. Rich.) Baker

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Picture: Tina Meikle
On Mozambique side of border near Penhalonga

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Synonyms:	Geissorhiza alpina Hook. f. Ixia petitiana A. Rich.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	uncertain
Description:	Perennial herb, 8-30 cm tall. Leaves 3-4, the lower 2(-3) basal and longer than the others; the upper leaf inserted about the middle of the stem. Spike 2-6-flowered, the flowers borne erect. Floral bracts 12-15 mm long, the outer bracts with the margins free to the base. Flowers pink, lilac or white; perianth tube 6-9 mm, cylindric and straight.
Type location:	Ethiopia
Notes:	Although this species apparently has not been recorded in Zambia yet it has been collected on the Nyika plateau in Malawi almost exactly on the border and could well occur on the Zambian side of the Nyika.
Derivation of specific name:	petitiana: after Antoine Petit (?-1843), French naturalist and botanist who traveled in Ethiopia in 1838. He was killed by a crocodile in the Tacazze River in 1843.
Habitat:	In rocky areas, on cliffs or in grassland.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Feb - Apr
Worldwide distribution:	Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, (possibly Zambia), Zimbabwe and Mozambique
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	E?
Zambian distribution (Provinces):
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:	Friday 11 October 2019
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 313. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 31. Goldblatt, P. (1993). Iridaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(4) Pages 59 - 61. (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 92. Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Pages 13 - 14. (Includes a picture). Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 111.

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Flora of Malawi: Hesperantha petitiana
Flora of Mozambique: Hesperantha petitiana
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hesperantha petitiana

External websites:

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