Oxygonum delagoense Kuntze

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Type

Type:Mozambique, Delagoa Bay, Kuntze s.n. (NY, holotype; K).

Morphology General Habit

An erect or ascending, annual or short-lived perennial herb with a taproot, generally branching from the base An erect or ascending, annual or short-lived perennial herb with a taproot, generally branching from the base.

Morphology Stem

Stems reddish-brown, up to 1 m tall, branched, longitudinally striate, glabrous to pubescent; branches slender, papillose Stems reddish-brown, up to 1 m tall, branched, longitudinally striate, glabrous to pubescent; branches slender, papillose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 2–8 × 0.3–1.8 cm, narrowly elliptic.lanceolate or linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute and mucronate at the apex, attenuate or decurrent at the base, ± sinuous or with 1–3 pairs of forward-directed lobes on the margins, sometimes very asymmetrical; midrib prominent beneath and ± puberulous or glabrous Leaves 2–8 × 0.3–1.8 cm, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate or linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, acute and mucronate at the apex, attenuate or decurrent at the base, ± sinuous or with 1–3 pairs of forward-directed lobes on the margins, sometimes very asymmetrical; midrib prominent beneath and ± puberulous or glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Ocrea

Ocrea 4–6 mm long, truncate with a fringe of light brown setae 4–5 mm long at the apex Ocrea 4–6 mm long, truncate with a fringe of light brown setae 4–5 mm long at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pedicellate, 2–4(6) in the axils of bracts, arranged in lax terminal slender racemes up to 30 cm long; bracts up to 4 mm long, chartaceous, obliquely truncate, without a fringe of setae or sometimes with a fringe of setae up to 3 mm long; pedicels 5–7 mm long, erect, glabrous or puberulous Hermaphrodite flowers heterostylous; perianth white, greenish or pale pink, lobed; tube 1.75–2.3 mm long and densely pubescent outside; lobes 3–4 mm long, oblong, ± acute Male flowers present; perianth c. 5 mm long; lobes 2–2.5 mm long; filaments 2.5–3 mm long Flowers pedicellate, 2–4(6) in the axils of bracts, arranged in lax terminal slender racemes up to 30 cm long; bracts up to 4 mm long, chartaceous, obliquely truncate, without a fringe of setae or sometimes with a fringe of setae up to 3 mm long; pedicels 5–7 mm long, erect, glabrous or puberulous. Hermaphrodite flowers heterostylous; perianth white, greenish or pale pink, lobed; tube 1.75–2.3 mm long and densely pubescent outside; lobes 3–4 mm long, oblong, ± acute. Male flowers present; perianth c. 5 mm long; lobes 2–2.5 mm long; filaments 2.5–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 1–4.5 mm long, filiform; anthers 0.4–0.5 × 0.25 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 1 × 0.5 mm; styles of the long-styled flowers 3–3.5 mm long; styles of the short-styled flowers 1–3.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nut 5–6 mm long, triquetrous, ± conical, usually armed a little above the base with 3 small, sometimes minute, ± retrorse teeth or protuberances at the angles. Nut 5–6 mm long, triquetrous, ± conical, usually armed a little above the base with 3 small, sometimes minute, ± retrorse teeth or protuberances at the angles.

Ecology

In open grassland and in sandy soils at water edges; 20–1200 m.

Distribution

Zimbabwe BOT N, BOT W, BOT SE, ZIM W, ZIM C, ZIM S, MOZ N Botswana MOZ M Also in Tanzania, Angola, Namibia and South Africa. MOZ GI Mozambique

sex Male

Male flowers present; perianth c. 5 mm long; lobes 2–2.5 mm long; filaments 2.5–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments 1–4.5 mm long, filiform; anthers 0.4–0.5 × 0.25 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 1 × 0.5 mm; styles of the long-styled flowers 3–3.5 mm long; styles of the short-styled flowers 1–3.5 mm long.

sex Hermaphrodite

Ovary 1 × 0.5 mm; styles of the long-styled flowers 3–3.5 mm long; styles of the short-styled flowers 1–3.5 mm long. Filaments 1–4.5 mm long, filiform; anthers 0.4–0.5 × 0.25 mm. Hermaphrodite flowers heterostylous; perianth white, greenish or pale pink, lobed; tube 1.75–2.3 mm long and densely pubescent outside; lobes 3–4 mm long, oblong, ± acute.