Momordica kirkii (Hook. f.) C. Jeffrey
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (15)
Photo: Bart Wursten
Catapu, Mozambique
Photo: Bart Wursten
Catapu, Mozambique
Photo: Bart Wursten
Catapu, Mozambique
Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyaodza River bridge (northern end), Matiti Pool, near Kariba
Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyaodza River bridge (northern end), Matiti Pool, near Kariba
Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyaodza River bridge (northern end), Matiti Pool, near Kariba
Photo: Bart Wursten
Mana Pools, by main road to camp
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road to workshop area, Rest Camp, Zambezi National Park.
Photo: Bart Wursten
Road from Katima Mulilo to Zambian border, sideroad
Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambezi Private School area, 3 km from Katima Mulilo
Photo: Bart Wursten
B8 c. 17 km West of Katima Mulilo
Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambezi Private School area, 3 km from Katima Mulilo
Photo: Bart Wursten
C8, about 32 km West of Katima Mulilo
Photo: Bart Wursten
Katima Mulilo area
Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)
Synonyms:
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Raphanocarpus kirkii Hook. f.
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Common names:
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Frequency:
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Status:
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Native |
Description:
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Perennial scrambler or climber. Stems annual, prostrate or scandent, growing from a tuberous rootstock. Tendrils simple. Leaves shallowly 5-lobed with short triangular lobes, giving the leaf a near-pentagonal outline. Base deeply cordate. Flowers solitary, axillary, unisexual on the same plant. Peduncles adnate to the leaf petioles, each flower appearing to arise from a leaf. Corolla bright orange; lobes obovate-obcuneate, bilobed. Male flowers 3.5-6 cm in diameter, much larger than female flowers. Fruit small, fusiform, ribbed, pubescent particularly on the ribs. |
Type location:
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Syntypes from Mozambique |
Notes:
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Derivation of specific name:
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kirkii: named after Dr John Kirk, who accompanied David Livingstone on his Zambezi expedition of 1858 |
Habitat:
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On sandy soils in deciduous and semi-deciduous woodland and wooded grassland. |
Altitude range: (metres) |
Up to 1000 m |
Flowering time: | |
Worldwide distribution:
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Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Caprivi-Namibia. |
National distribution:
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B,N,S |
Zambian distribution (Provinces):
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N,S,W
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Growth form(s):
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Endemic status:
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Red data list status:
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Insects associated with this species:
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Spot characters:
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Display spot characters for this species |
Literature:
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Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 39.
Jeffrey, C. (1978). Cucurbitaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 428 - 429.
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 38.
Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 136, plate 177
Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 53.
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Other sources of information about Momordica kirkii:
Our websites:
Flora of Botswana:
Momordica kirkiiFlora of Caprivi:
Momordica kirkiiFlora of Malawi:
Momordica kirkiiFlora of Mozambique:
Momordica kirkiiFlora of Zambia:
Momordica kirkiiExternal websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg):
Momordica kirkiiAfrican Plant Database:
Momordica kirkiiBHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library):
Momordica kirkiiEOL (Encyclopedia of Life):
Momordica kirkiiGBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility):
Momordica kirkiiGoogle:
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ScholariNaturalist:
Momordica kirkiiIPNI (International Plant Names Index):
Momordica kirkiiJSTOR Plant Science:
Momordica kirkiiMansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops:
Momordica kirkiiPlants of the World Online:
Momordica kirkiiTropicos:
Momordica kirkiiWikipedia:
Momordica kirkii
Copyright:
Mike Bingham, Annette Willemen, Nicholas Wightman, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Mark Hyde, 2011-25
Bingham, M.G., Willemen, A., Wightman, N., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. and Hyde, M.A.
(2025).
Flora of Zambia: Species information: Momordica kirkii. https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=157220, retrieved 16 February 2025
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