Thunbergia atriplicifolia
Flowers
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Thunbergia
Species:
T. atriplicifolia
Binomial name
Thunbergia atriplicifolia
E.Mey. ex Nees (1847)
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Thunbergia aspera Nees
    • Thunbergia bachmannii Lindau
    • Thunbergia baurii Lindau
    • Thunbergia cordibracteolata C.B.Clarke
    • Thunbergia flavohirta Lindau
    • Thunbergia galpinii Lindau
    • Thunbergia hirtistyla C.B.Clarke
    • Thunbergia xanthotricha Lindau

Thunbergia atriplicifolia, the Natal primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae,[2] native to South Africa and Eswatini.[1][3] It is a favored browse of the steenbok (Raphicerus campestris).[4]

Etymology

The genus name Thunbergia is named for Swedish naturalist Carl Thunberg, the father of South African botany. The adjective Atriplicifolia is derived from the Latin, meaning that the species' foliage is similar to that of members of the Atriplex genus.

Description

Flowering plant in December. Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal.
Thunbergia atriplicifolia is a larval foodplant for Rhanidophora moths

Thunbergia atriplicifolia is a perennial, sparsely to densely pubescent shrublet reaching up to 4 cm high. Re-sprouts from a woody base. Leaves are sessile or with petioles up to 4 mm long; blade is narrow to broad ovate with acute to obtuse apex and cordate to cuneate base, about 2.5–6.0 x 1.5–3.5 cm; margins are entire or toothed, usually only with two teeth at the base. Flowers are trumpet-shaped, pale creamy with yellow throat, 4–5 cm in diameter. Seeds are reddish- or greyish-brown with evenly arranged trichomes, 4-6 mm in diameter.[5][6]

Ecology

Thunbergia atriplicifolia is a subordinate grassland species where it grows best in both loam and sandy soil.

Distribution

The species can be found through eastern South Africa.

References

  1. 1 2 "Thunbergia atriplicifolia E.Mey. ex Nees". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Thunbergia atriplicifolia E.Mey". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  3. ↑ Kamundi, D. A. (2006). "Natal Primrose". National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  4. ↑ Huntley, B.J. (January 1972). "A note on food preferences of a steenbok". South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 2 (1): 24–26. hdl:10520/AJA03794369_2791. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  5. ↑ Manning, John C.. (2013). Field guide to wild flowers of South Africa. Cape Town: Random House Struik. p. 278. ISBN 9781920544874.
  6. ↑ "Thunbergia atriplicifolia E. Mey. ex Nees". www.worldfloraonline.org. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
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