Pachycarpus lineolatus (Decne.) Bullock

Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb with annual stems arising from a fascicle of fleshy fusiform tubers.

Morphology Stem

Stems erect or ascending, 0.4–1.5 m long, one to many, usually unbranched, but sometimes branched below, densely pubescent with spreading white hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole (2–)5–13 mm long, pubescent; lamina narrowly lanceolate to broadly ovate, elliptic or oblong, 4–12(–14) × 1–6(–9) cm, apex obtuse or slightly retuse to acute, base cordate, truncate or rounded, margins scabrid, venation prominent with numerous parallel secondary veins at right angles to the midrib, indumentum of slightly scabrid spreading white hairs on both upper and lower surfaces

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal and extra-axillary with 4–12 flowers in a nodding umbel.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncles erect or ascending, (2–)4–17 cm long, densely spreading-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts filiform, (2–)5–14 mm long, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 1–3(–4) cm long, pubescent, commonly tinged with purple

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes lanceolate, (4–)6–11 × (1–)2–3 mm, acute, densely pubescent, green or tinged with purple particularly towards the apex and margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla rotate or saucer-shaped, underside cream or brownish purple, sometimes with one or more longitudinal purple stripes, sparsely to densely pubescent, upper surface cream or pale green, often marked with a network of purple or chocolate-brown lines in the distal half, minutely papillate and with short hairs towards the apex and margins; lobes ovate, 8–17 × (4–)6–9(–11) mm, acute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona lobes arising from the base of the staminal column, solid, fleshy, 7–8 × (1–)3–4 mm, narrowing gradually towards the apex, spreading or ascending from the staminal column, with a pair of triangular or quadrate vertical plates arising from the upper surface, 4–5 mm high at the proximal end reaching to the top of the column, the proximal margins resting against the column, the upper margins meeting to form an enclosed chamber, white or cream with a reddish purple patch on the underside of the fleshy basal plate, often restricted to an area just below the tip, upper parts minutely verrucose or papillate, the remainder of the lobe generally glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal column ± 6 mm long, fertile part forming a cylinder ± 3 × 4–6 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther appendages ovate or semicircular in outline ± 1.5 × 1 mm, and inflexed over stylar head; corpusculum black, ovoid, 0.5–0.6 × 0.2–0.3 mm; translator arms 0.4–0.7 × 0.15–0.2 mm, flattened, with a further 0.2–0.3 mm clasping overlap with the pollinium. Anther wings vertical, triangular, 2–3.5 × 1 mm, extending below the fertile part for ± 1.5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollinia

Pollinia irregularly clavate in outline, 0.8–1.2 × 0.4–0.7 mm, flattened

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Stylar head flat, white or green

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles and seeds as in P bisacculatus

Figures

Fig 106/1–8, p 439

Ecology

Open deciduous woodland or seasonally waterlogged grassland; 700–2500 m

Distribution

Range: Widespread from Ivory Coast to South Sudan and S to Angola and Malawi Flora districts: U2 U3 U4 K2 K3 K4 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8

Goyder, D. J., Gilbert, M. G. & Venter, H. J. T. (2020). Apocynaceae (part 2). In: M. A. García (ed.), Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 7(3). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Type

Angola, da Silva s.n. (P holotype, K photograph).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb with annual stems arising from a fascicle of fleshy fusiform tubers; stems 0.4–1.5 m long, 1 to many, usually unbranched, but sometimes branched below, erect or ascending, densely pubescent with spreading white hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole (2)5–13 mm long, pubescent; lamina 4–12(14) × 1–6(9) cm, narrowly lanceolate to broadly ovate, elliptic or oblong, apex obtuse or slightly retuse to acute, base cordate, truncate or rounded, margins scabrid, venation prominent with numerous parallel secondary veins at right angles to the midrib, indumentum of slightly scabrid spreading white hairs on both upper and lower surfaces

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal and extra-axillary with 4–12 flowers in a nodding umbel, peduncles (2)4–17 cm long, erect or ascending, densely spreading-pubescent; bracts (2)5–14 mm long, filiform, pubescent; pedicels 1–3(4) cm long, pubescent, commonly tinged with purple

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes (4)6–11 × (1)2–3 mm, lanceolate, acute, densely pubescent, green or tinged with purple particularly towards the apex and margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla rotate or saucer-shaped, underside cream or brownish purple, sometimes with one or more longitudinal purple stripes, sparsely to densely pubescent, upper surface cream or pale green, often marked with a network of purple or chocolate-brown lines in the distal half, minutely papillate and with short hairs towards the apex and margins; lobes 8–17 × (4)6–9(11) mm, ovate, acute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona lobes arising from the base of the staminal column, 7–8 mm long, (1)3–4 mm wide at the base, narrowing gradually towards the apex, solid, fleshy, spreading or ascending from the staminal column, with a pair of triangular or quadrate vertical plates arising from the upper surface, 4–5 mm high at the proximal end reaching to the top of the column, the proximal margins resting against the column, the upper margins meeting to form an enclosed chamber, white or cream with a reddish purple patch on the underside of the fleshy basal plate, often restricted to an area just below the tip, upper parts minutely verrucose or papillate, the remainder of the lobe generally glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Staminal column c.6 mm long, fertile portion forming a drum c.3 mm long and 4–6 mm diam.; anther wings 2–3.5 × 1 mm, extending below the fertile portion for c.1.5 mm, triangular, ± vertical-Stylar head flat, white or green

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Follicles and seeds as in P. bisacculatus.

Distribution

Zambia, Malawi. Widespread in tropical Africa from Ivory Coast in the west to Sudan in the east and as far south as Angola and Malawi.

Ecology

Open deciduous woodland or seasonally waterlogged grassland; 700–2500 m.

Asclepiadaceae, A. A. Bullock. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

An erect simple-stemmed perennial

Morphology General Indumentum

Hispid-hairy all over

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Inflated bladder-like follicles

Ecology

Savanna.

Asclepiadaceae, A. A. Bullock. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

A hispid hairy perennial very similar to the preceding (Pachycarpus lineolatus)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

The follicles fusiform, not inflated

Ecology

Savanna.