Acrotome inflata

Acrotome inflata (horsefright or tumbleweed) is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. This species is native to Africa. Acrotome inflata was first described in 1848 by George Bentham.[1] The name "horsefright" is derived from the Afrikaans "perdeskrikbossie" (horse-fright bush).[2]

Acrotome inflata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Acrotome
Species:
A. inflata
Binomial name
Acrotome inflata
Benth.
  • Acrotome amboensis Briq. in Bull. Herb. Boissier 2(3): 1095 (1894)
  • Lasiocorys eenii (Hiern) Baker in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 5: 469 (1900)
  • Leucas eenii Hiern in Cat. Afr. Pl. 1: 878 (1900)

Characteristics

Acrotome inflata is an erect annual herb that grows up to 1 metre tall. Its stems are densely covered in appressed hairs. The arrangement of its leaves are opposite and are either sessile or shorty petiolate. The leaves range from being ovate, to being oblong-lanceolate and usually grow from 3-12 cm long (but are mostly wider on the lower part of the stem). Its leaves very hairy on both sides and its margins are rarely crenate-dentate. Its flowers are grouped in dense rows in inflorescences that come in verticils, it has many bracteoles, are filiforms that grow up to 1 centimetre long, are densely-hairy and are spine-tipped.[3]' Its corolla come in colors varying from white to pale mauve.[4]

Habitat

Acrotome inflata usually thrives in dry tropical biomes, usually depending on the season.[1]

References
  1. "Acrotome inflata Benth. - Kew". Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  2. Smith, C.A.: Common Names of South African Plants, page 601. Pretoria: Government Printer, 1966.
  3. "Acrotome inflata Benth. - Tsammalex". Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  4. "Acrotome inflata Benth. - Flora of Caprivi". Retrieved 2023-01-16.
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