Polygala transvaalensis subsp. kagerensis (Lebrun & Taton) Paiva

Polygalaceae, Jorge Paiva. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2007

Type

Type: Rwanda, Gabiro, Lebrun 9533 (BR!, holo.; K!, iso.)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial prostrate herb or subshrub 5–15 cm tall.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves oblong-obovate to narrowly elliptic, (5–)10–30 × (2–)3–11 mm, acute to rounded and mucronate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in 1–6-flowered lateral racemes 1–2 cm long; wing sepals greenish, obliquely elliptic, mucronate, 4–5 × 2.5–3 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ovoid, 2.5 × 1.2 mm, sericeous-pubescent.

Ecology

Scattered tree grassland or grassland; 400–2000 m

Note

P. transvaalensis has two subspecies: the southern subsp. transvaalensis [Zimbabwe, South Africa (Trasvaal, Orange and Natal) and Lesotho] and the central/east subsp. kagerensis. The latter is a sprawling perennial herb or subshrublet (5–15 cm tall), with shorter, mucronate wing sepals (4–5 mm long) and smaller seeds (2.5 × 1.2 mm); while the former is an ± erect, perennial herb (10–20 cm tall), with longer, not mucronate (apiculate), wing sepals (4.5–6 mm long) and larger seeds (2.5–3 × 1.3–1.5 mm).

Distribution

Flora districts: U2 U4 K6 T1 T3 T6 T8 Range: Rwanda