Vernonia poskeana Vatke & Hildebrandt

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Vernonia poskeana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Cleveland Dam, Harare

Vernonia poskeana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Quarry Kopje, Cleveland Dam, Harare

Vernonia poskeana

Photo: Bart Wursten
Quarry Kopje, Cleveland Dam, Harare

Vernonia poskeana

Photo: Sune Holt
Machengue, Vilanculos Distr., Inhambane, Mozambique

Vernonia poskeana

Photo: Sune Holt
Machengue, Vilanculos Distr., Inhambane, Mozambique

Vernonia poskeana

Photo: Sune Holt
Machengue, Vilanculos Distr., Inhambane, Mozambique

Vernonia poskeana

Photo: Sune Holt
Machengue, Vilanculos Distr., Inhambane, Mozambique

Vernonia poskeana

Photo: Sune Holt
Machengue, Vilanculos Distr., Inhambane, Mozambique

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Crystallopollen angustifolium Steetz
Polydora poskeana (Vatke & Hildebr.) H. Rob.
Polydora steetziana (Oliv. & Hiern) H. Rob.
Vernonia poskeana Vatke & Hildebr. var. chlorolepis sensu Eyles
Vernonia poskeana Vatke & Hildebrandt subsp. botswanica G.V. Pope
Vernonia poskeana Vatke & Hildebrand subsp. samfyana (G.V.Pope) G.V.Pope
Vernonia steetziana Oliv. & Hiern
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Erect annual herb, branching up to c. 1 m tall or unbranched and depauperate (see photos). Leaves linear, up to 8 cm long but usually smaller, somewhat roughly hairy; margin strongly rolled under. Capitula numerous in open terminal panicles. Florets purple.
Type location:
Zanzibar
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: Occurring in grassland, woodland, on rocky outcrops and along streams, dams and roadsides, often in sandy soils.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:Apr-May
Worldwide distribution: Angola, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
FZ divisions:
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 180 - 181. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 37. as Vernonia steetziana and subsp. botswanica

Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 38. as subsp. botswanica (Includes a picture).

Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 305. as subsp. botswanica (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 29. also as Vernonia steetziana, V. erinacea and subsp. botswanica

Pope, G.V. (1992). Compositae Flora Zambesiaca 6(1) Pages 147 - 150. also as V. steetziana and V. erinacea, subsp. botswanica and samfyana

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 39. as Vernonia steetziana and subsp. botswanica

Shone, D.K. & Drummond, R.B. (1965). Poisonous Plants of Rhodesia Ministry of Agriculture, Rhodesia Page 59.

Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 24.

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 201.

Wild, H. (1978). New and interesting Vernonia species from the Flora Zambesiaca area Kirkia 11(1) Pages 2 - 3.


Other sources of information about Vernonia poskeana:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Vernonia poskeana
Flora of Malawi: Vernonia poskeana
Flora of Mozambique: Vernonia poskeana
Flora of Zambia: Vernonia poskeana
Flora of Zimbabwe: Vernonia poskeana

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-26

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2026). Flora of Botswana: Species information: Vernonia poskeana.
https://www.botswanaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=158490, retrieved 4 August 2026

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