''Thunbergia natalensis'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Acanthaceae, that is
native
Native may refer to:
People
* Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth
* Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory
** Native Americans (disambiguation)
In arts and entert ...
to parts of mainland Africa, including South Africa (Limpopo, Mpulamanga, KwaZulu-Natal, East Cape Province), Eswatini, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. It occurs in forest margins, bush and grassland. Normally evergreen, it responds to dry or cold winters by losing its leaves and going dormant.
Common names include dwarf thunbergia, Natal blue thunbergia and Natal blue-bell.
This handsome plant is cultivated in
temperate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...
regions for its masses of summer-flowering pale blue, trumpet-shaped blooms against dark hairy leaves. Growing to around tall, it is best displayed as groundcover in a partially-shaded position.
Thunbergia natalensis-IMG 0460.jpg
Thunbergia natalensis Hook. Bot. Mag. 84. 5082. 1858.jpg
Thunbergia natalensis kz2.jpg
Thunbergia natalensis Nyanga 16.2.07 (7880320186).jpg
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q10778982
Flora of Swaziland
Flora of Ethiopia
Flora of Malawi
Flora of South Africa
Flora of Tanzania
Flora of Zimbabwe
natalensis