Psychotria mahonii C.H. Wright

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Psychotria mahonii

Photo: Bart Wursten
By road in Vumba Botanic Gardens

Psychotria mahonii

Photo: Bart Wursten
Path to Hadange Gorge, Chimanimani National Park

Psychotria mahonii

Photo: Bart Wursten
Stream crossing at boundary with Coutada 10, Coutada 12

Psychotria mahonii

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along dambo trail near Luwawa Forest Lodge

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Synonyms: Grumilea punicea S. Moore
Psychotria mahonii C.H. Wright var. puberula (E. Petit) Verdc.
Common names: Large bird-berry (English)
Frequency:
Status:
Description:
Small or tree. Bark grey, rather smooth, sometimes corky. Leaves elliptic to obovate, up to 23 cm long, leathery, hairless or with hairs mainly beneath; hairtuft domatia distinct; margin entire, often rolled under; stipules obovate, 2-lobed at the apex. Flowers in terminal branched heads, about 5 mm in diameter, creamy-white or greenish-yellow, bearded in the throat, sweetly scented. Fruit globose, 5-6mm in diameter, yellow to red when ripe, with two stones.
Type location:
Malawi
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:Dec - Feb
Worldwide distribution: DRC, Rwanda, Uganda; Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Bridson, D., Troupin, G. & Verdcourt, B. (1985). Rubiaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume III Page 206. As Psychotria mahonii var. puberula

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 251.

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 905. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 46.

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989). The flora and phytogeography of the evergreen forests of Malawi. I: Afromontane and mid-altitude forests; Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 59(1/2) Page 22.

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 277.

Fischer, E. & Killmann, D. (2008). Illustrated Field guide to the Plants of Nyungwe National Park Rwanda. University of Koblenz-Landau. Page 302. (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 73.

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 167.

Verdcourt, B. (1988). Rubiaceae, Part 1 Flora Zambesiaca 5(1) Pages 18 - 19.

Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 99.


Other sources of information about Psychotria mahonii:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Psychotria mahonii
Flora of Mozambique: Psychotria mahonii
Flora of Zambia: Psychotria mahonii
Flora of Zimbabwe: Psychotria mahonii

External websites:

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


Copyright: The Rwanda flora team, 2024-26

The Rwanda flora team (2026). Flora of Rwanda: Species information: Psychotria mahonii.
https://www.rwandaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=156440, retrieved 3 August 2026

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