Afrosolen erythranthus (Klotzsch ex Klatt) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (22)

Photo: Bart Wursten
Rocky slopes on left of entry road, Cleveland Dam, Harare

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nr Sutton Mine

Photo: Stefaan Dondeyne
Along road to Buye Rotanda, Sussundenga District

Photo: Bart Wursten
By the Birchenough Bridge to Masvingo Rd

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near dam, Lake Kyle Recreational Park

Corms
Natural habitat is open woodland and scrub usually in rocky areas
Cultivated at Dabuyu Farms
Apr 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

Flowers
Miombo woodland
Dabuyu Farms, Lilayi, Lusaka Distr.
Dec 2021
Photo: Nick Wightman

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

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

Synonyms:	Lapeirousia erythrantha (Klotzsch ex Klatt) Baker Lapeirousia rhodesiana N.E. Br. Psilosiphon erythranthus (Klotzsch ex Klatt) Goldblatt & J.C. Manning
Common names:	Bluebells (English)
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Perennial herb, growing from corms. Stems repeatedly branched. Inflorescence branched, the flowers crowded terminally. Flowers often purple-blue with dark blue and pale nectar guides on the three lower tepals. There are,however, several other colour forms: a deep maroon-red form, usually lacking markings, which appears to be more widespread at lower altitudes, and a blue form which is more common elsewhere. Flowers may rarely be pale mauve or white, with or without dark markings on the lower tepals.
Type location:
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	erythranthus: red-flowered, despite the fact that flowers are often blue-violet
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Dec - Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Botswana, DRC (Shaba), Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe
FZ divisions:	N
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 206 - 207. As Lapeirousia erythrantha (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 36. As Lapeirousia erythrantha Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 23. As Lapeirousia erythrantha 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 127. As Lapeirousia erythrantha Goldblatt, P. (1990). Systematics of Lapeirousia (Iridaceae–Ixioideae) in Tropical Africa Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 77(3) Pages 451 - 456. As Lapeirousia erythrantha (Includes a picture). Goldblatt, P. (1993). Iridaceae Flora Zambesiaca 12(4) Pages 31 - 33. As Lapeirousia erythrantha (Includes a picture). Goldblatt, P. & Manning, J.C. (2015). Systematics and Biology of Lapeirousia, Codonorhiza, Psilosiphon and Schizorhiza in Southern Africa Strelitzia 35 South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria Pages 123 - 126. As Psilosiphon erythranthus (Includes a picture). Goldblatt, P. & Manning, J.C. (2016). Nomenclatural adjustments in African plants 2 Bothalia 46(1) Page 4. Linley, K. & Baker, B. (1972). Flowers of the Veld Bundu Series Longman Zimbabwe Page 25. As Lapeirousia rhodesiana 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 92. As Lapeirousia erythrantha Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Pages 13 - 14. As Lapeirousia erythrantha (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 116. As Lapeirousia erythrantha Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 66. As Lapeirousia erythrantha (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 125. As Lapeirousia erythrantha Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 111. As Lapeirousia erythrantha Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 83. As Lapeirousia erythrantha

Other sources of information about Afrosolen erythranthus:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Afrosolen erythranthus
Flora of Mozambique: Afrosolen erythranthus
Flora of Zambia: Afrosolen erythranthus
Flora of Zimbabwe: Afrosolen erythranthus

External websites:

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