Physotrichia heracleoides H.Wolff

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Kaperepeza road, Nyika National Park

Synonyms:
Common names:
Description:	Robust to wiry biennial or perennial herbs up to 80 cm high, growing from a woody rootstock. stems coarsely grooved with scattered short bristly hairs. Leaves mostly basal, simple or sometimes completely divided, with 3–5 broadly rounded subpalmate lobes or leaflets up to 15 cm long and 20 cm wide; apex often emarginate, base cordate; margins fairly finely toothed; petioles up to 20 cm long, somewhat sheathing at the base. Umbels terminal and lateral on long peduncles; bracts and bracteoles very well developed and often conspicuous, linear to narrowly lanceolate, up to 2·5 cm long. Calyx teeth well developed, narrowly triangular to subulate; petals white to pale cream. Fruit ellipsoid to ovoid, 3-5 mm long, slightly dorsiventrally compressed, covered with hairs especially on the ribs.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	heracleoides: resembling Heracleum, a genus in Apiaceae, found in northern temperate regions.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	DRC, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia.
Growth form(s):
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 65. (Includes a picture). Cannon, J.F.M. (1978). Apiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 603 - 605. (Includes a picture).

Flora of Malawi: Physotrichia heracleoides
Flora of Zambia: Physotrichia heracleoides

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