Agelanthus songeensis Balle ex Polhill & Wiens

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

Type

Type from Tanzania.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style red opposite filaments, with neck 3–3.5 mm long above; stigma 1 mm across

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berry not seen. Berry not seen.

Ecology

Mixed woodland and wooded grassland; c. 1200 m; on Piliostigma and Combretum; flowering in May.

Note

A very handsome species liable to confusion with Phragmanthera, but detailed structure of hairs, bracts, stamens, etc. quite different.

Distribution

Also in the Songea District of SE Tanzania. MAL S Malawi

Morphology General Habit

Large shrub, spreading and pendulous, flowering mostly on relatively short lateral branches; branchlets stout, slightly flattened, minutely velvety, the slightly longer hairs reddish-brown, branched and falling first, gradually glabrescent. Large shrub, spreading and pendulous, flowering mostly on relatively short lateral branches; branchlets stout, slightly flattened, minutely velvety, the slightly longer hairs reddish-brown, branched and falling first, gradually glabrescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite and subopposite; petiole 1–2 cm long; lamina deep green, somewhat blue-green beneath, coriaceous, 7–17 × 3–12 cm, ovate to ovate-elliptic, bluntly pointed, basally cuneate to rounded, scabridulous with minute branched hairs especially on midvein and beneath, glabrescent, with 4–9 pairs of main lateral nerves, the lower ones obliquely ascending. Leaves opposite and subopposite; petiole 1–2 cm long; lamina deep green, somewhat blue-green beneath, coriaceous, 7–17 × 3–12 cm, ovate to ovate-elliptic, bluntly pointed, basally cuneate to rounded, scabridulous with minute branched hairs especially on midvein and beneath, glabrescent, with 4–9 pairs of main lateral nerves, the lower ones obliquely ascending

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Umbels 6–8-flowered; peduncle 4–5 mm long; pedicels 3–4 mm long, red-brown velvety; bract limb 3–4 mm long, ovate-triangular to elliptic-concave. Umbels 6–8-flowered; peduncle 4–5 mm long; pedicels 3–4 mm long, red-brown velvety; bract limb 3–4 mm long, ovate-triangular to elliptic.concave

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle 2.5 mm long, red-brown velutinous. Receptacle 2.5 mm long, red-brown velutinous; calyx cupular, 0.8–1 mm long, subentire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx cupular, 0.8–1 mm long, subentire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 4.5–5 cm long, reddish on bulbous base, then vivid orange-vermillion, banded orange-yellow at base of lobes with red tips, velutinous with minute red-brown branched hairs; apex of bud 5 × 3.5 mm, shortly oblong-ellipsoid, slightly angled and with slight keels raised into small subapical prominences; basal swelling 8–10 × 4.5–5 mm, ovoid-ellipsoid, narrowed for 5–6 mm above; lobes erect, 11 mm long, upper expanded part 5.5–6 × 1.2–1.5 mm, hardened inside, slightly crested outside. Corolla 4.5–5 cm long, reddish on bulbous base, then vivid orange-vermillion, banded orange-yellow at base of lobes with red tips, velutinous with minute red-brown branched hairs; apex of bud 5 × 3.5 mm, shortly oblong-ellipsoid, slightly angled and with slight keels raised into small subapical prominences; basal swelling 8–10 × 4.5–5 mm, ovoid-ellipsoid, narrowed for 5–6 mm above; lobes erect, 11 mm long, upper expanded part 5.5–6 × 1.2–1.5 mm, hardened inside, slightly crested outside

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen filaments pink shading to orange-yellow, inflexed; tooth 0.5–0.7 mm long; anthers 3–3.5 mm long. Stamen filaments pink shading to orange-yellow, inflexed; tooth 0.5–0.7 mm long; anthers 3–3.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style red opposite filaments, with neck 3–3.5 mm long above; stigma 1 mm across.