Common name: Blue butterfly flower
Rotheca myricoides subsp. myricoides (Hochst.) Steane & Mabb. APNI* Synonyms: Clerodendrum ugandense Prain APNI*
Description: Evergreen shrub up to 3 m high.
Leaves ovate, sharply toothed, 6–8 cm long.
Inflorescences of panicles 10–25 cm long, composed of individual flowers about 2.5 cm long. The flowers have 4 pale blue lobes and 1 darker blue-violet elongated central lobe, making them look like little butterflies.
Drupe, black.
Distribution and occurrence: Native of Africa, introduced cultivated plant.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC
Rotheca myricoides comprises a perplexing complex of morphological variants of which 'Ugandensis' is widely cultivated.
Text by Barry Conn
Taxon concept: Steane and Mabberley (1998) Novon 8(2) p204-206
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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