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Synonyms: |
Trapa austroafricana V. Vassiljev Trapa bispinosa Roxb. |
Common names: | Water chestnut (English) |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Floating aquatic herb. Leaves in floating rosettes, diamond-shaped with margins near the apex coarsely toothed, green above, red below, long petioles reddish, fleshy, swollen in the middle. Submerged leaves finely dissected, root-like. Flowers solitary in leaf axils, small, white. Fruit a triangular hard nut with 2-4 sharp horns. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | natans: floating or swimming |
Habitat: | In deep permanent water in slow moving backwaters of rivers and lakes. |
Altitude range: | |
Flowering time: | Mar - Apr |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in the tropics |
Malawi distribution: | N,S |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 58 - 59. as Trapa natans (Includes a picture). Brenan, J.P.M. (1978). Trapaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 346 - 348. (Includes a picture). 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 115. Ellery, K. & W. (1997). Plants of the Okavango Delta, a Field Guide Tsaro Publishers, Durban, South Africa Page 149. (Includes a picture). 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 81. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 101. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 540 - 541. as Trapa natans (Includes a picture). Roodt, V. (2011). Wild flowers, Waterplants and Grasses of the Okavango Delta and Kalahari "Did You Know" nature series Struik Nature for Veronica Roodt Publications Page 42. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 109. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 193. |
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