Tristemma mauritianum J.F. Gmel.
var. mauritianum

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Nhandar River, lower slopes, Mt Gorongosa

Photo: Neil Crouch
Haroni Gorge, Chimanimani

Photo: Bart Wursten
At waterfall in Muvumodzi River close to junction with Mucandue River, eastern Chimanimani Mts.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Yaekela

Photo: Bart Wursten
Just downstream from Yamfira, Lomami River

Photo: Bart Wursten
Nyungwe Forest National Park, Nyamasheke

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Synonyms:	Tristemma grandifolium (Cogn.) Gilg Tristemma incompletum R. Br. Tristemma schumacheri Guill. & Perr.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect or scrambling perennial herb up to 1.5 m tall. Stems rather fleshy, sharply 4-angled or even slightly winged, with short stiff purplish bristles. Leaves opposite, ovate-elliptic, up to 15 cm long, dark green above, paler below, with short rough hairs on both surfaces, 5-7-veined from the base. Flowers in dense heads, pale pink or mauve. Stamens all similar with a deeply 2-lobed basal appendage on the pedoconnective. Fruit c. 16 × 10 mm, purplish-brown.
Type location:	Mauritius
Notes:	Only var. mauritianum is widespread in Africa and is known to occur in Angola.
Derivation of specific name:	mauritianum: from Mauritius
Habitat:	Along forest margins and on river banks.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Tropical Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius.
Provinces:	CA,CN,LN,LS,MA
Growth form(s):	Perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 57. Fernandes, R. & A. (1978). Melastomataceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 231 - 233. As Tristemma mauritianum (Includes a picture). Fischer, E. & Killmann, D. (2008). Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Pages 544 - 545. as Tristemma mauritianum (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 61. Maquet, P. (1983). Melastomataceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume II Page 522. as Tristemma mauritianum (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 163. also as T. mauritianum Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Pages 120 - 121.

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

Tristemma mauritianum J.F. Gmel. var. mauritianum