Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk.

Boraginaceae, E. S. Martins (Trichodesma by R. K. Brummit). Flora Zambesiaca 7:4. 1990

Morphology General Habit

A biennial or sometimes perennial herb 0.3–1.2(1.8) m. high with erect annual stems, shortly hispid with antrorse hairs toward the apex, spreading below and sometimes retrorse near the base.

Morphology Leaves

Inferior leaves with petiole 2.5–8(13) cm. long, the superior ones almost sessile; lamina of the inferior leaves 8–15(20) x 2–4(6.5) cm., lanceolate to oblanceolate, that of the superior ones 2–6(8) x 0.4–1.8 cm., lanceolate to sublinear, roughish to shortly hispid above, roughish to pubescent below, acute at apex, attenuate at base and decurrent on the petiole; midrib and 2 lateral veins in all leaves usually prominent below.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes ebracteate above the first flower, often divaricate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers with pedicels 1.0–2.5(3) mm. long, a little accrescent and recurved in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1.0–1.5 mm. long, divided to near the base; lobes ovate to oblong-ovate, roughish to shortly hispid outside, ciliate, glabrous inside, rounded at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 1.5–2.6 mm. long, white or blue or with the tube mauve and the limb white or bluish but deep blue at throat, glabrous; tube 0.7–1.4 mm. long, campanulate; lobes 0.6–1.5 x 0.6–1.5 mm., oblong-ovate to subcircular, rounded at apex; fornices much broader than long, semilunar.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens inserted at 0.6–0.9 mm. from the base of the corolla tube; anthers 0.4–0.6 mm. long, oblong; Filaments 0.2–0.3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style thick, up to 1.5 mm. long in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets 1.5–2.5 x 1.2–1.8 mm. (without glochids), ovate, united to the style by a strap which detaches itself at complete maturity ± equally covered with 0.5–1.0 mm. long glochids; outer surface flat or convex, not marginate.

Boraginaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1991

Morphology General Habit

Annual or biennial (rarely ? perennial) herb 0.2–1.2 m. tall, branched from the base or ± unbranched below but mostly with upper inflorescence-bearing part well-branched; taproot thick, up to 20 × 2 cm.; stems drying brownish, with sparse to dense white adpressed to spreading slightly tubercle-based hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves elliptic, lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, 2–13(–18) cm. long, 0.5–4(–5) cm. wide, acute at the apex, ± rounded at the base, scabrid with tubercle-based hairs from rings of cystoliths, breaking off to leave tubercles; venation ± impressed above, raised beneath; lower leaves with petioles developed, upper ± sessile.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal and axillary, usually characteristically divaricately bifid, rapidly elongating, 1–20 cm. long, the individual branches mostly (2.5–)4–1 3(–22) cm. long; flowers typically small; pedicels ± 1 mm. long up to 2.5 mm. and mostly recurved in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals oblong, elliptic or ovate, 0.8–2 mm. long, 0.4–1.3 mm. wide, ± unequal and mostly 2 mm. long in fruit, with tubercle-based hairs outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla usually white or sometimes pale blue or with a blue centre; tube 1 mm. long; lobes rounded-ovate to oblong, 0.5–2 mm. long, 0.5–1 mm. wide; anthers 0.5 mm. long; style 0.2–0.3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits yellow-brown when ripe, 4–5 mm. wide, the nutlets subglobose-obovoid, 1.5–2 mm. in diameter, evenly covered all over with slender glochidia over 0.5 mm. long, separating easily at maturity; fruiting style ± 0.5(–1.3) mm. long, narrowly oblong and compressed, almost winged in dry state.

Figures

Fig. 29/2, p. 105.

Habitat

Grassland, bushland, often as a weed in plantations, cultivation edges, murram roadsides and other areas of bare soil; (?600–)1140–2040(-?2520) m.

Distribution

widespread from Arabia to S. & W. Africa and to India, Malaysia and China K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Herb, 0.2–1.2 m tall, from a thick taproot; stems and leaves ± hispid

Morphology Leaves

Leaves lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 2–18 x 0.5–4 cm, attenuate at the base, acute at the apex, the lower ones petiolate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences usually with paired branches, quickly elongating, c. 2–15 cm long; pedicels 1–3 mm long, elongating and ± recurved in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-lobes oblong to ovate, 1–2 mm long, hispid outside

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white or pale blue; tube c. 1 mm long; lobes 0.5–2 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style c. 0.3 mm long, elongating in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets subglobose-obovoid, 1.5–2 mm in diam., covered all over with c. 0.5 mm long glochidiate spines; fruiting style up to 1.3 mm long, angular and almost winged.

Distribution

N1, 2 widespread in tropical Africa and from the southern part of the Arabian peninsula to India, Malaysia and China.

Ecology

Altitude range 1300–2160 m.

Boraginaceae, H. Heine. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

A pilose herb 3-6 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

White or bluish flowers.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident