Hygrophila pilosa Burkill

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Picture: Bart Wursten
Borrowdale Common, nr cnr Lanner Ave/Teviotdale Ave

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Decumbent, much-branched herb, up to 20 cm. Leaves ovate, glandular-pubescent, apex acute, base slightly cordate, sessile or very shortly petiolate (1 mm). Flowers in axillary pedunculate clusters of 1-several flowers, subtended by bracts, which resemble the leaves. Calyx lobes 5, connate below, one spathulate, 5-6 mm and c.3 mm wide, the other 4 linear, slightly shorter. Corolla ± erect, c.1 cm; upper lip erect, pale purple to almost white, lower lip reflexed with 3 lobes, purple with orange-brown bulges at the throat. Stamens 4. Capsule linear, pubescent.
Type location:	Malawi, lectotype from Zambia
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	pilosa: pilose, with long soft hairs
Habitat:	By streamsides and in black vlei soils; also a colonist of cultivated areas.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:	Aug - Sep
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Botswana, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	B,N,W,C,E,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	Nw,Cb,Lp,N,Lk,S,W
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	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. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 18. Vollesen, K. (2013). Acanthaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 8(5) Pages 110 - 111.

Other sources of information about Hygrophila pilosa:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Hygrophila pilosa
Flora of Caprivi: Hygrophila pilosa
Flora of Malawi: Hygrophila pilosa
Flora of Zimbabwe: Hygrophila pilosa

External websites:

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