Lepidagathis scariosa (O. Hoffm.) Nees

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Habit
Miombo woodland amongst sparse rocky outcrops
Kabwelume Falls, Mporokoso Distr.
Mar 2017
Photo: Nick Wightman

Flower
Miombo woodland amongst sparse rocky outcrops
Kabwelume Falls, Mporokoso Distr.
Mar 2017
Photo: Nick Wightman

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Synonyms:	Lepidagathis sciaphila S. Moore Lepidagathis terminalis Nees Ruellia aristata Vahl Volkensiophyton neuracanthoides Lindau
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Much branched perennial herb or subshrub up to 120 cm tall; stems with dense pale buff to golden stellate or dendritic hairs; leaves ovate(-lanceolate) or oblong-elliptic, 2.8-9 x 1-3.6 cm, stellate pubescent; inflorescences in terminal fasciculate to spiciform cymes compounded into globose or conical heads 1.5-4.5 cm long; calyx purple tinged in distal half, scarious; corolla 19-22 mm long, pink to purple or rarely white with numerous long hairs on lobes; capsule 8.5-10 mm long; seeds 2-3 x 1.8-2.7 mm.
Type location:	India
Notes:	Plants from N Zambia are of the form previously separated as L. sciaphila for which the leaves are oblong-elliptic to oblong-lanceolate with ± prominent reticulate venation beneath and the stems have a golden-yellow indumentum.
Derivation of specific name:	scariosa:from scarious meaning thin, dry or parchment-like
Habitat:	In miombo and mopane woodland, associated grassland, often on rocky hillsides.
Altitude range:	600 - 1400 m
Flowering time:	Mar - Aug
Worldwide distribution:	Mali, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola. Also in Arabia and India.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	N,W,C,E,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	Lp,N,Mc,E,C,Lk,S
Growth form(s):	Perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Tuesday 6 July 2021
Literature:	Darbyshire, I., Vollesen, K. & Kelbessa, E. (2015). Acanthaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 8(6) Pages 22 - 23. 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 14. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 19.

Other sources of information about Lepidagathis scariosa:

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Flora of Mozambique: Lepidagathis scariosa
Flora of Zimbabwe: Lepidagathis scariosa

External websites:

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