Boerhavia diffusa L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Nr Umvumvumvu R Br. by Mutare to Birchenough Br. rd

Photo: Bart Wursten
Chitengo, Gorongosa National Park.

Photo: Sune Holt
Vilankulo, Inhambane, Mozambique

Photo: Bart Wursten
B8 to Ngoma, Bukalo

Photo: Mark Hyde
Borrowdale Road, near St George's

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Synonyms:	Boerhavia adscendens Willd. Boerhavia paniculata Rich. Boerhavia repens L. var. diffusa (L.) Hook.f.
Common names:	Tarvine (English)
Frequency:	Common
Status:	Possibly introduced
Description:	Spreading perennial herb. Stems decumbent or ascending, much-branched from the base, glabrous or puberulous but with longer hairs, particularly at the nodes. Leaves ovate, elliptic to subcircular, glabrous except for longer hairs on the veins below and margins. Inflorescences terminal, lax, greatly elongated and diffusely branched. Flowers usually in clusters of 2-10, whitish, pink, carmine or purple. Stamens and style c. 2 mm long, slightly exerted. Fruits c. 3.5 mm long, clavate with a rounded apex, glandular pubescent.
Type location:	India
Notes:	See B. erecta for comparison.
Derivation of specific name:	diffusa: diffuse, loosely spreading, referring to the inflorescence
Habitat:	A weed of disturbed places.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	A pantropical weed
National distribution:	SE
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 280. (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 64. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 89. Stannard, B.L. (1988). Nyctaginaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(1) Pages 21 - 23. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 37. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Burundi: Boerhavia diffusa
Flora of Caprivi: Boerhavia diffusa
Flora of Malawi: Boerhavia diffusa
Flora of Mozambique: Boerhavia diffusa
Flora of Zambia: Boerhavia diffusa
Flora of Zimbabwe: Boerhavia diffusa

External websites:

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