Elytraria acaulis (L.f.) Lindau

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Picture: Bart Wursten
Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve

Picture: Celesta von Chamier
Rifa Conservation Camp

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Synonyms:	Elytraria crenata Vahl Elytraria crenata Vahl var. lyrata (Vahl) Nees Elytraria lyrata (Vahl) Vahl Elytraria marginata sensu da Silva et al. non Vahl Justicia acaulis L.f. Justicia acaulis L. f. var. lyrata Vahl Tubiflora acaulis (L. f.) Kuntze
Common names:
Frequency:	Frequent at lower altitudes
Status:	Native
Description:	Stemless perennial herb with 1-several unbranched flowering stems, up to c. 30 cm tall. Leaves in a basal rosette, subsessile, elliptic to obovate, up to 18 cm long, hairy, particularly on the veins below; margin subentire to scalloped in the upper part. Flowers in 1-several spikes held in tight apiculate, overlapping bracts. Bracts and flowering stem bluish green. Corolla white, lower lip and lateral lobes spreading, 2-lobed. Flowers often not opening. Capsule 5.5-6.5 mm long, hairless.
Type location:	India
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	acaulis: without a stem
Habitat:	Deciduous woodland often on rocky or sandy soils.
Altitude range:	Up to 1000 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Ghana, Nigeria, DRC, Angola, Botswana, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and India.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	N,C,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	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:	Saturday 15 March 2014
Literature:	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 18. also as Elytraria marginata (wrong name) 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 18. as Elytraria lyrata Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 18. as Elytraria lyrata Vollesen, K. (2009). Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora of Tropical East Africa Page 12. Vollesen, K. (2013). Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 8(5) Pages 6 - 9. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Botswana: Elytraria acaulis
Flora of Malawi: Elytraria acaulis
Flora of Mozambique: Elytraria acaulis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Elytraria acaulis

External websites:

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