Bush Violet
Tinnea aethiopica (?)
This plant was found in a partial clearing along the Elgeyo Escarpment, Iten, Kenya. January 2012.
LEAVES: The opposite leaves are closely spaced along the branch tips and
have a few marginal teeth.
SHRUB: A shrubby plant about 2 meters tall.
FLOWERS: Deep Burgundy-colored flowers emerge from between enlarging,
two-lipped calyx.
RANGE: This specimen was found at Iten. There are several Tinnea
species native to East Africa.
FRUIT: The two-lipped calyx greatly inflates around the fruit as it
matures
UNARMED.
Mweiga, Nyeri County, Kenya. December 2015.