Clutia pulchella
| Clutia pulchella | |
|---|---|
 | |
| C. pulchella var. pulchella | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Acalyphoideae |
| Genus: | Clutia |
| Species: | C. pulchella |
| Binomial name | |
| Clutia pulchella L. | |
The lightning bush, Clutia pulchella, is a southern African dioecious shrub of the family Euphorbiaceae. It occurs at middle altitudes in Namibia, Mozambique,[1] Zimbabwe,[2] Swaziland,[3] Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa.[4]
Description
They may grow 2–3 metres (6.6–9.8 ft) high,[3] and occur on a variety of broken terrain types.
The twigs are green with some wart-like growths. Leaf shape is somewhat variable, either blunt-tipped ovate or broadly lanceolate. The foliage is bluish-green but sometimes interspersed with some bright orange leaves.[5] They are soft with venation that is transparent against light, besides the numerous glands that dot each leaf.[5][Note 1]
The axillary flowers develop into spherical,[3] clearly three-chambered capsules. The capsules are about 3 millimetres (0.12 in) in diameter, and may bear warts. Seeds are released when the dry capsules burst open.
It is a food plant for the Heidelberg copper butterfly. It is similar to the related monoecious species C. abyssinica, which has the leaves more elongated.[4]
Infra-specific taxa
- Clutia pulchella var. pulchella – widespread
- Clutia pulchella var. franksiae Prain – localized in South Africa
- Clutia pulchella var. obtusata Sond. – localized in South Africa and Zimbabwe
Notes
- ↑ i.e. punctate with pellucid glands, or pellucid-punctate.
References
- ↑ "Clutia pulchella". Plant Database. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- ↑ Hyde, M. A.; et al. "Clutia pulchella L. var. obtusata Sond.". Flora of Zimbabwe. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Clutia pulchella L. var. pulchella". Swaziland's Flora Database. SNTC. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- 1 2 "Clutia pulchella L.". African Plant Database. CJB & SANBI. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
- 1 2 Van Wyk, Braam (1988). Veldgids tot die Veldblomme van die Witwatersrand- en Pretoria-gebied. Cape Town: Struik. pp. 130–131. ISBN 0-86977-815-3.
External links
Media related to Clutia pulchella at Wikimedia Commons