Amorphophallus mossambicensis (Schott) N.E. Br.

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Amorphophallus mossambicensis

The inflorescence begins to open in the early evening and the spadix emits a carrion-like odour to attract pollinators;
Open woodland; Lilayi
Nov 2011
Photo: Nick Wightman

Amorphophallus mossambicensis

Fully expanded flower shedding pollen the morning after the inflorescence first opened;
Open woodland; Lilayi
Nov 2011
Photo: Nick Wightman

Amorphophallus mossambicensis

Inflorescences can appear from late October through to late December;
open woodland; Lilayi
Nov 2011
Photo: Nick Wightman

Amorphophallus mossambicensis

Fully expanded leaf with ripening seedhead;
Open woodland;Lilayi
Dec 2006
Photo: Nick Wightman

Amorphophallus mossambicensis

The leaves of Amorphophallus are all pretty similar and are not a reliable means for distinguishing species;
Open woodland; Lilayi
Dec 2006
Photo: Nick Wightman

Amorphophallus mossambicensis

Ripening berries can range in colour from orange to red and are dispersed by birds such as Bulbils;
Open woodland; Lilayi
Dec 2006
Photo: Nick Wightman

Amorphophallus mossambicensis

The berries generally contain 1 to 2 seeds which are recalcitrant and germinate within several weeks from ripening;
Open woodland; Lilayi
Jan 2012
Photo: Nick Wightman

Amorphophallus mossambicensis

The tubers are generally roundish to depressed globose depending on age and produce rhizomatous offsets as a means of vegetative propagation;
Open woodland; Lilayi
Feb 2007
Photo: Nick

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

Synonyms: Amorphophallus swynnertonii Rendle
Corynophallus mossambicensis
Hydrosome mossambicensis
Common names:
Frequency: Widespread
Status: Native
Description:
Tuber, leaf and inflorescence description as per genus. A. mossambicensis is distringuished from A. abyssinicus subsp. unyikae by the spadix which is equal to or longer than the spathe, interrupted irregular ribs of the basal region inside the spathe tube and pollen morphology.
Type location:
Mozambique
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: mossambicensis: from Mozambique
Habitat: Open forest and miombo woodland.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:Oct-Dec
Worldwide distribution: From Democratic Republic of Congo to Tanzania south to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): S
Zambian distribution (Provinces): 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: Friday 1 April 2016
Literature:

Haigh, A. & Boyce, P. (2012). Araceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(1) Pages 41 - 42.

Other sources of information about Amorphophallus mossambicensis:

Our websites:

Flora of Mozambique: Amorphophallus mossambicensis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Amorphophallus mossambicensis

External websites:

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


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: Amorphophallus mossambicensis.
https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=191160, retrieved 28 March 2024

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