species

Question 1

Name the (3) three mcvaughia species you know ?

Answer 1

mcvaughia bahiana mcvaughia piauhiensis mcvaughia sergipana

Question 2

theobroma cacao flower subfamilia name is?

Answer 2

byttnerioideae

Question 3

theobroma cacao germany name is?

Answer 3

kakaobaum

Question 4

sweet banana botanical name is ?

Answer 4

musa acuminata

Question 5

coffee botanical name is ?

Answer 5

rubiaceae

Question 6

what is the botanical name for meru oak ?

Answer 6

Vitex keniensis

Question 7

Mosquito Fern

Answer 7

Azolla filiculoides
These small ferns float on the water surface of slow ponds and marsh edges. This appears to be the exotic species from the Neotropics (Central or South America). Each individual plant is just a centimeter or so in diameter and as new leaves are added the plants break apart increasing the spread of the plant. The plants are capable of fixing nitrogen, a factor that sometimes offsets its roll as an aquatic weed.

Question 8

Mexican Cypress

Answer 8

Cupressus lusitanica
As the common name implies, this tree is native to Mexico. A number of varieties and subspecies are recognized with a variety of habitat preferences and growth characteristics. Varieties capable of rapid growth and straight boles have been widely propagated around the world. In Kenya extensive plantations of Mexican Cypress can be found from 1500 to 3000 m elevation. This tree also is a favorite of homeowners for its shade and wind-breaking ability.

Question 9

Fern

Answer 9

Doryopteris concolor
These attractive ferns have entered the horticultural trade where some perveyors have applied the name “Hand Fern”. The triangular fronds are shiny green on the top surface. The leaf stem, called the stipe, is shiny, dark brown to black.

Question 10

African Juniper

Tarakwa

Answer 10

Juniperus procera
Known in English as African Juniper or East African Juniper, is a coniferous tree native to the mountains of eastern Africa from eastern Sudan south to Zimbabwe, and the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a characteristic tree of the Afromontane flora, medium-sized, reaching 20-25 m (rarely 40 m) tall, with a trunk up to 1.5-2 m diameter and a broadly conical to rounded or irregular crown. The leaves are of two forms, juvenile needle-like leaves 8-15 mm long on seedlings, and adult scale-leaves 0.5-3 mm long on older plants, arranged in decussate pairs or whorls of three. It is largely dioecious with separate male and female plants, but some individual plants produce both sexes. The cones are berry-like, 4-8 mm in diameter, blue-black with a whitish waxy bloom, and contain 2-5 seeds; they are mature in 12-18 months. The male cones are 3-5 mm long, and shed their pollen in early spring. It is the only juniper to occur south of the equator. It is closely related to Juniperus excelsa from southwestern Asia, probably deriving from a common ancestor with that species in southwestern Asia.

Question 11

Podo

East African Yellow-wood

Answer 11

Afrocarpus (Podocarpus) falcatus
True pine trees do not occur in the southern hemispere naturally, but have been planted extensively. The podocarps are the Southern Hemispere’s indigenous conifers. The female cones have just one seed enclosed in a fleshy aril. The male cones are more typical-looking but are small and fall from the tree soon after releasing their pollen. Podo, of East African Yellow-wood, is a large tree of moist highlands and has been harvested extensively for timber.

Question 12

Weeping Fern

Answer 12

Lepisorus excavatus ?
In humid environments ferns, orchids and other plants are able to grow upon the structures of other plants. These are called epiphytes. Without roots in the soil they must obtain water and nutrients from rain and debris that falls upon them. An intricate base of dead rhizomes and dead leaves may help capture and retain dead leaves, wind-blown soil, and leavings of birds or other animals. This material becomes mulch that retains water also becomes a microhabitat similar to soil but perched up in the branches.

Weeping Fern, Lepisorus sp., photo © by Michael Plagens
Ferns reproduce by means of spores. The spore producing structures are called sori (plural) and in this species are located on the underside of the fronds. The fronds are simple, i.e. not pinnately divided.

Question 13

Blood Lily

Answer 13

The large spherical ball represents up to 150 smaller flowers all opened at once. Being spectacular and common, this plant has garnered a number of colloquial names and has also been brought into cultivation. The inflorescence is supported on a thick, succulent stem and the leaves are broadly elliptic.

Question 14

Vlei-Lily

Pyjama-Lily

Answer 14

Crinum macowanii
It is fascinating to look at this beautiful flowering plant and notice how it deals with grazing animals that inhabit the seasonally wet grasslands where it grows. First, the leaves are tough and rubbery - the tips get chewed off, but the strong attachment holds and the leaves can continue elongating from their bases. Next the inflorescence shoot arises from a lateral bud below the leaves, lower than most grazers can reach. The large white flowers are night-pollinated and are closed up from mid morning till dusk. The open flowers are held high up so as to make visitation by night-flying moths more likely. Soon after the flowers are pollinated the whole peduncle (stem) rotates back down to soil level to keep the developing fruits below the animals’ grazing level.

Question 15

Gloriosa Lily

Answer 15

Gloriosa superba
A fairly common plant in Kenya which is both very spectacular and highly toxic. The six red-orange tepals are long with crinkled margins. The long triangular leaves terminate in a tendril by which the plant climbs adjacent vegetation. Above ground portion is herbaceous from a fleshy underground rhizome.

Question 16

Bush Aparagas

Answer 16

Asparagus africanus
Woody shrub from one to two meters tall and wide. African Asparagus is well adapted to hot conditions and intermittent drought. The succulent leaves are linear, similar to pine-needle. This morphology maximizes dissipation of heat. With extended drought leaves are deciduous. Flowers have six white-green tepals, are about 7mm in diameter, and set in interrupted spikes. Fruit mature to red berries.

Question 17

Wild Aparagas

Answer 17

Asparagus flagellaris
The woody stems with very stout, recurved spines, form impenetrable thickets which grazing animals like goats and cattle find difficult to penetrate. Small white flowers followed by red berry-like fruit should follow, but were not seen on the plants in December. New tender shoots are used as a vegetable after boiling.

Question 18

Reclining Date Palm

Answer 18

Phoenix reclinata
LEAVES: The pinnate leaves are 3 or 4 meters long. Sharp spines along the base of the rachis.

TREE: Typically there are several to many stems forming a clump reaching 5 to 15 meters in height.

FLOWERS: The panicles of numerous cream-colored flowers soon become pendant as the fruits develop.

RANGE: Native to tropical portions of the African continent.

FRUIT: A fleshy drupe containing a single, stone-like seed.

ARMED: Bases of leaf petioles are lined with sharp spines.

Question 19

American Aloe

Answer 19

Agave americana
LEAVES: Spear shaped leaves have very sharp tips. The variegated color patterns seem to be appealing to many landscape architechs.

SUCCULENT: Two or more meters in height.

FLOWERS: Clusters of large, cream-colored flowers on a tall stalk. The parent plant normally dies after flowering once. This results in the common name Century Plant.

RANGE: There are many Agave species all native to the Americas. Sisal is also an agave with origins in tropical America (thumb link below). Agave is not related to the Aloes.
Sissal sisalana

Question 20

Aloe

Answer 20

Aloe sp.
LEAVES: Long-trinagular leaves are thick and succulent. The margins are serrated.

flowers and developing fruit of Aloe sp., photo © Michael Plagens SHRUB: Succulent shrub with one to several one to two-meter long stems from ground level. Densely packed leaves clothe the stems - dead leaves closer to base.

FLOWERS: The flowers are red, tinged-yellow, long and tubular.

RANGE: There are many Aloe species; They are popular in cultivation and many variations and cultivars have been given species level names.

FRUIT: Slightly ob-ovoid with three carpels.

ARMED: Sharp leaf margins.

Xanthorrhoeaceae (Aloeaceae) – Aloe Family

Question 21

Water Lettuce

Answer 21

Pistia stratiotes
LEAVES: The thick leaves appear corrugated and are very bouyant due to included air pockets.

HERB: Aquatic herb floats on the surface of slow-moving, fresh water bodies.

FLOWERS: A small spathe (modified leaf) partially encloses a group of very small male flowers and a female flower. Flowers are not commonly seen and the plants reproduce mostly asexually via budding.

RANGE: Water lettuce is found in tropical waters world wide. It’s origin is unclear.

FRUIT:

UNARMED.

Question 22

Papyrus

Paper Reed

Answer 22

Cyperus papyrus
This tall, robust, leafless aquatic plant can grow 4 to 5 m high. It forms a grass-like clump of triangular green stems that rise up from thick, woody rhizomes. Each stem is topped by a dense cluster of thin, bright green, thread-like stems around 10 to 30 cm in length, resembling a feather duster when the plant is young. Greenish-brown flower clusters eventually appear at the ends of the rays, giving way to brown, nut-like fruits. The younger parts of the rhizome are covered by red-brown, papery, triangular scales, which also cover the base of the culms. Botanically these represent reduced leaves, so strictly it is not quite correct to call this plant fully “leafless”.

Question 23

Sedge

Answer 23

Cyperus sp.
Cyperus is a large genus of about 600 species of sedges, distributed throughout all continents in both tropical and temperate regions. They are annual or perennial plants, mostly aquatic and growing in still or slow-moving water up to 0.5 m deep. The species vary greatly in size, with small species only 5 cm tall, while others can reach 5 m in height. Common names include papyrus sedges, flatsedges, nutsedges, umbrella-sedges and galingales. The stems are circular in cross-section in some, triangular in others, usually leafless for most of their length, with the slender grass-like leaves at the base of the plant, and in a whorl at the apex of the flowering stems. The flowers are greenish, and wind pollinated; they are produced in clusters among the apical leaves. The seed is a small nutlet.

Question 24

Pond Weed

Answer 24

Potamogeton sp.
In many species, all the leaves are submerged, and in these cases, they are typically thin and translucent. Some species, especially in ponds and very slow-moving waters, have floating leaves which tend to be more leathery. Diagnostic of most species of Potamogeton is the presence of a delicate membranous sheathing scale at the leaf axil. This may be wholly attached, partly attached, or free of the leaf, and it may have inrolled margins or appear as a tube. The flowers, which are often overlooked, are composed of four rounded segments borne in a spike. The genus name means “river neighbor”, originating from the Greek potamos (river) and geiton (neighbor).

Question 25

Water Hyacinth

Answer 25

Eichhornia crassipes
The beautiful flowers and ease of propogation encouraged early travelers to transport this aquatic plant from its original home in South America to warm rivers and lakes on every continent. The result has been quite a disaster as the plants proliferate uncontrollably. Only by introducing some of the plant’s natural enemies (mostly insects) is headway being made. Water bodies can be completely covered over cutting of light and oxygen, thus causing the death of fish and making navigation by boat impossible.

Question 26

Cattail / Bulrush

Answer 26

Typha capensis
Typha leaves are alternate and mostly basal on a simple, jointless stem that bears the flowering spikes. The plants are monoecious, with unisexual flowers that develop in dense racemes. The numerous male flowers form a narrow spike at the top of the vertical stem. Each male (staminate) flower is reduced to a pair of stamens and hairs, and withers once the pollen is shed. Large numbers of tiny female flowers form a dense, sausage-shaped spike on the stem below the male spike. In larger species this can be up to 30 centimetres long and 1 to 4 centimetres thick. The seeds are minute, 0.2 millimetres long, and attached to fine hairs. When ripe, the heads disintegrate into a cottony fluff from which the seeds disperse by wind.

Question 27

Cherimoya

Answer 27

Annona cherimola
This pear-shaped fruit native to the Americas is grown in cooler, higher rainfall areas of Kenya. The flesh of the fruit suggests a kind of custard. Embedded there are a number of hard, black seeds. Fruit bats and other native wildlife have also taken a liking for the sweet and nutritious fruit.

Question 28

Avocado

Answer 28

Persea americana
Avocado is widely cultivated in Kenya, especially at mid to high elevations but its origin is in Mexico. The dark, glossy green, simple leaves are alternate on the stem and are smooth margined. The undersides of leaves are whitish. Medium-sized trees, exceptionally reaching 20 meters. The greenish-white flowers are inconspicuous. Familiar fruits are one-seeded and with many varieties of skin color and texture as well as the buttery flesh.

Lauraceae – Laurel Family

Question 29

Sensitive Wood-Sorrel

Answer 29

Biophytum abyssinicum
These diminutive plants use an exquisite mechanism as defense against damage from browsers and storm damage. Upon being physically disturbed the leaves fold down like a little umbrella. Most plants are entirely herbaceous and less than 10 cm tall. Flowers are small, with five petals, and orange-yellow. Widely distributed across Africa in moist, shady environments.

Oxalidaceae – Wood-Sorrel Family

Question 30

Mexican Prickly Poppy

Answer 30

Argemone mexicana
This non-native plant is well defended both chemically and with sharp spines from most herbivores. Thus its abundance is exacerbated by grazing cattle and goats that will avoid it. This plant is native to Mexicao but has been distributed to many tropical and subtropical places around the world. Originally the plant was transported from its origin because people used the the plant medicinally. For sure the highly toxic compounds have received attention from pharmacists and biochemists.

Question 31

Kale

Sukuma Wiki

Answer 31

Brassica oleracea
Mustard Greens or Kale are a staple vegetable grown in cooler mid and higher elevations in Kenya. The plants grow taller as the lower leaves are harvested for cooking. Sukuma Wiki, the local Kiswahili name refers to pushing or extending the weekly food budget. The plants are easy to grow and produce an abundance of green, leafy vegetable. The same plant species in its different varieties produces head cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower and brussel’s sprouts. Cabbage Aphids are among the insects found on this plant.

Question 32

Catchfly

Answer 32

Silene gallica
A common weed of temperate regions through much of the world. This, among many plants native to Eurasia, was likely introduced to Kenya by colonists who brought traditional crops, and inadvertently, weed seeds.

Question 33

Khaki Weed

Creeping Chaff-weed

Answer 33

Alternanthera pungens ?
HERB: Herbaceous plant creeping along the ground. Roots form at soil contact points giving this weedy plant many footholds.

FLOWERS: The flowers are set within closely packed, brownish, papery scales that harden a bit and become sharp. Without colorful petals.

LEAVES: Leaves are broadly ellyptic to almost round.

RANGE: This plant is native to tropical America and must have been introduced along with agricultural plants. Look for it on pastures and in gardens.

FRUIT: Small seeds enclosed singly in each small ovary.

ARMED. The scale-like bracts of the inflorescence are rather sharp-tipped.

Amaranthaceae – Amaranth Family

Question 34

Massai Stinging Nettle

Answer 34

Urtica massaica
Leaves: The leaves and stems are covered with sharp hypodermic needles ready to inject a stinging chemical. The broad, oval leaves are heart-shaped at their base. Veins below are conspicuously raised.

Flowers: Very small greenish-white flowers are borne in dense, elongate clusters.

Habit: Tall, largely herbaceous, occasionally reaching 2 m tall.

On the Elgeyo Escarpment I found many plants colonized by gall mites that resulted in purplish blister-like growths on the leaves.

Question 35

Jack Fruit

Answer 35

Artocarpus heterophyllus
 The jackfruit (alternately jack tree, jakfruit, or sometimes simply jack or jak; scientific name Artocarpus heterophyllus), is a species of tree in the Artocarpus genus of the mulberry family (Moraceae). It is native to parts of South and Southeast Asia, and is believed to have originated in the southwestern rain forests of India, in present-day Kerala, coastal Karnataka and Maharashtra. This tree is widely cultivated in tropical regions of the world. The jackfruit tree is well suited to tropical lowlands, and its fruit is the largest tree-borne fruit,reaching as much as 36 kg in weight and up to 90 cm long and 50 cm in diameter.

Question 36

Loquat Tree

Answer 36

Eriobotrya japonica
This is a popular tree in highland gardens of Kenya. Besides pleasant shade and appearance, it also yields sweet fruit. Both the flowers and ripening fruit are very attractive to native birds.

Question 37

Blackberry

Answer 37

Rubus steudneri ?
The stems are lined with small, but sharp prickles, and as the numerous weak stems bend and lean against themselves and other plants they form an impenetrable thicket. Getting to the edible berries can be an arduous task.

Question 38

Mickey Mouse Bush

Bird’s Eye Bush

Answer 38

Ochna serrulata (?)
This very showy specimen was observed on the grounds of Gede Ruins, Malindi. Two and a half meters tall with numerous flowers but no fruit. Leaves are shiny and sharply serrate along the margins. There are several species of Ochna native to this area, but this may be a transplant from South Africa. Ochna serrulata is widely planted as an ornamental.

The sepals remain attached after flowering and become bright red, and in some species fleshy. One to five fleshy drupes develop from each carpel, 1 to several per flower, and are eaten by frugivorous (fruit-eating) birds thereby dispersing the seeds.

Question 39

Frangipani

Answer 39

Plumeria
Frangipani has attracted the attention of tropical horticulturists everywhere. The leaves are dark green, shiny and mostly evergreen. Bright, large flowers appear more-or-less year round, and they are fragrant. These medium to large-sized shrubs are not native to Kenya. There are several species from the American tropics and varieties and hybrids have been planted in Kenya and elsewhere. Natve Kenyan insects normally cannot live on exotic plants like frangipani. However, Kenya has some related dogbanes and so insects that normally feed on native dogbanes might occasionally find harbor on frangipani. Most members of the dogbane family are laced with power plant toxins that will poison herbivores that do not possess the necessary metabolic antidotes.

Apocynaceae – Dogbane Family

Question 40

Succulent Milkweed

Answer 40

Caralluma (Desmidorchis) acutangula
Many species of succulent milkweed can be found in the semiarid and desert areas of Africa, and Kenya is no exception. In many ways they resemble cactus that are native to the New World, or the succulent spurges native to Africa, but are unrelated. Text books often give this as an example of convergent evolution. Besides thorns, many milkweeds are defended from herbivores by highly toxic compounds and irritating latex resin. a succulent asclepiadaceae, photo © Michael Plagens Notice the unusual flower color, like the color of drying carrion or flesh. Indeed the mass of flowers smell of rotting meat and attract flies - flies that are the agents of pollination.

Asclepiadaceae – Milkweed Family
(now included in the Apocynaceae – Dogbane Family)

Question 41

Sandmat

Answer 41

Euphorbia hirta
(Chamaesyce hirta)
Chamaesyce is often lumped into the genus Euphorbia and in this way an obscure plant, often trampled under foot, is a close relative of Euphorbia trees reaching massive proportions. The spurge plants are best appreciated under substantial magnification. In the photo at left dense glomerules of flower heads contain many dozens of glomerules of still smaller male and female flowers. Female flowers give rise to the seeds which are born in three-lobed capsules, just like the majority of euphorbs. The small heads of flowers have reddish glands that bare white or pink appendages that look like petals. Chamaesyce plants usually grow very close to the soil forming prostrate mats.

Euphorbiaceae – Spurge Family

Question 42

Bougainvillea

Answer 42

Bougainvillea
Bougainvillea vines remain highly colorful all year with pleasing dark green leaves and bright pink, lavender, red of orange bracts. Landscape architects and gardeners in tropical and subtropical regions everywhere plant it. The main drawback comes when it comes time to prune it back: the thorns are long and viciously sharp. There are several species native to South America - these and many hybrids have found their way into the nursery trade. The leaves are a favorite material for leaf-cutting bees to use in construction of their tubular nests.

Question 43

Lion’s Ear

Klip Dagga

Answer 43

Leonotis nepetifolia
This mint species is frequent component of roadsides and fallow fields in the higher elevation (1600+ m.) in the Rift Valley near Eldoret. This species has bright orange tubular flowers borne in dense balls together with spiny-bracted fruits. Two or three of these compact inflorescences on each tall stem about 1-½ m tall. The flowers are attractive to sunbirds such as the Variable Sunbird and the seeds are fed upon by stink bugs.

Question 44

Nandi Flame

African Tulip Tree

Answer 44

Spathodea campanulata
TREE. Nandi Flame grows to be a large tree up to 25 meters with a broad crown.

FLOWERS: The large showy flowers are slightly two-lipped and appear together in big clusters with several blooms opening at the same time.

LEAVES: The large, pinnately compound leaves are dark green on the top surface and lighter below. Leaves opposite on the stems.

FRUIT: Large, (75cm) elyptial pods are held erect. They are packed with winged seeds that are readily dispersed by wind.

RANGE: Native to highland areas of the Rift Valley, but now widely cultivated throughout Kenya and the tropics around the world.

UNARMED

Bignoniaceae – Trumpet Vine Family

Question 45

Resurrection Plant

Answer 45

Craterostigma pumila
PERENNIAL HERB: Herbaceous perennial which tends to grow prostrate on ground in open areas and can revive very quickly from a dry condition after rains.

FLOWERS: The flowers are bilaterally symmetrical with a distinct pale throat and five, sky blue petals united into a tube below.

LEAVES: Broad leaves with longitudinal veins are thick and spongy. Arrayed in a basal rosette. On drying they shrink and become hidden only to re-emerge with rain.

RANGE: This plant is probably native to mid to higher elevations in East Africa.

FRUIT: Fruit a dry capsule with typically numerous seeds.

UNARMED. Without spines.

Scrophulariaceae – Figwort Family
(recently moved to Linderniaceae)

Question 46

Bitter Apple Nightshade

Answer 46

Solanum incanum
This is an abundant weed at roadsides and edges of farm plots across Kenya. It thrives in part because of the sharp spines and foliage laced with toxic alkaloids. Ubiquitous goats and cattle cannot consume it and so it grows unchecked.

With maturity the fruits are about 3 cm in diameter and are lemon-yellow. Seeds in the fruit, which is terribly bitter, are probably spread by birds.

Solanaceae – Nightshade Family

Question 47

Prickly Pear

Answer 47

Opuntia stricta (?)
The arid and semi-arid regions of East Africa have many endemic, spiny, succulent plant species, some of which appear to be cacti. However, except for a small group of epiphytic cactus species, all cactus are native to the Americas. Their occurrence in Kenya is due to introduction of the exotic seeds or cuttings. Prickly pear cacti are sometimes encouraged as natural fence barriers, but otherwise their presence in Africa should be seen as unproductive. Prickly pear cactus have become significant invasive exotic weeds in many parts of the world.

Question 48

Brush Box

Answer 48

Lophostemon confertus
Large, elyptical leaves on a medium to large tree. Rather large white flowers with five petals have the numerous stamens fused into five columns opposite the petals. Hard, cup-shaped fruits have three fuzed, woody carpels and are densely spaced on very short pedicels. This non-native tree is originally Australia.

Question 49

Foetid Melon

Answer 49

Momordica foetida (?)
HERBACEOUS VINE: Herbaceous vine from a perennial, tuberous root. Tendrils from nodes assist in clinging to supports.

flower of Momordica foetida

FLOWERS: The flowers are whitish with pleated petals. Separate male and female flowers.

LEAVES: Leaves are heart shaped at base and taper to a triangular point. The margins are toothed and the upper surface is set with short, stiff hairs.

RANGE: This plant is native to many parts of Africa south of the Sahara and has been used for food and medicinally.

FRUIT: The ellipsoid fruit as it matures develops numerous brightly colored fleshy projections. The mature, dry fruit splits open along three seems revealing black seeds within a red, sticky aril.

UNARMED.

Question 50

Passion Fruit

Answer 50

Passiflora edulis
Passion flowers were encountered in the Western Hemisphere by early European explorers. The illustrations caused quite a bit of consternation among some clergy who saw symbolic shapes and formulas. It was the sweet and edible fruits, however, that led to their spread to tropical areas in Africa and elsewhere. In addition to the purple variety, a yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis flavicarpa) is also cultivated in Kenya, but mostly in warmer, more humid regions.