Sparrmannia africana

Sparrmannia africana, the African hemp or African linden, is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family Malvaceae, native to open woodland in South Africa and Madagascar. It is one of up to seven species in the genus Sparrmannia. The genus name is after Anders Sparrman.

Sparrmannia africana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Sparrmannia
Species:
S. africana
Binomial name
Sparrmannia africana

Growing to 3–6 m (10–20 ft) tall by 2–4 m (7–13 ft) broad, S. africana is an evergreen shrub or small tree with large pale green leaves 21 cm (8 in) long and clusters of white flowers with red and yellow stamens. It is not closely related to the true hemp, cannabis.[1]

Sparrmannia species are known for their haptonasty, rapid movements made by the stamens when they are touched. This adaptation helps in more effective pollination.[2]

With a minimum temperature of 7 °C (45 °F), Sparrmannia africana is grown as a houseplant in temperate climates. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3][4]

The name Sparmannia acerifolia hort. ex Steud., with a mis-spelled generic name – an "orthographic variant" – was in the past used for this species.[5]

See also

References
  1. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  2. Lunau, K. (2000). "The ecology and evolution of visual pollen signals". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 222 (1–4): 89–111. doi:10.1007/bf00984097. S2CID 42445643.
  3. "RHS Plant Selector - Sparrmannia africana". The Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  4. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 99. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  5. "Nomencl. Bot. [Steudel], ed. 2. ii. 614". Retrieved 2 July 2022.
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