Amaranthaceae

Dasysphaera Volkens ex Gilg

First published in H.G.A.Engler & K.A.E.Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., Nachtr. 1: 153 (1897)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is NE. & E. Tropical Africa.

Descriptions

Amaranthaceae, C.C. Townsend. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1985

Morphology General Habit
Perennials or small shrubs with opposite or more rarely alternate leaves and branches; indumentum of jointed, almost smooth hairs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves entire
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a narrow bracteate thyrse with compact sessile partial inflorescences; partial inflorescences basically of ultimate bracteolate triads of 1 fertile and 2 bibracteolate sterile flowers; fertile flowers 3–6 in each partial inflorescence, commonly with 2 triads set on each side of an ebracteolate fertile flower
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Fertile flowers hermaphrodite with 5 perianth-segments which are all similar in form Sterile flowers of few narrow bracteoliform processes and numerous smooth or pilose bristles in several branched clusters which lengthen as the fertile flowers mature
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 5; filaments filiform throughout or expanded towards the base, free or very shortly connate at the base; pseudostaminodes absent; anthers bilocular
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary with a single pendulous ovule, glabrous, obpyriform, firm and rounded above, delicate below; style filiform, stigma capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit an indehiscent capsule rupturing in the lower delicate area, the entire partial inflorescence probably falling together in fruit
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Endosperm copious.
[FTEA]

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

Morphology General Habit
Perennials or small shrubs with opposite or more rarely alternate entire leaves
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences spike-like, narrow, bracteate thyrses with compact sessile partial inflorescences basically of ultimate triads of 1 fertile and 2 modified sterile flowers; fertile flowers 3–6 in each partial inflorescence, commonly with 2 triads set on each side of a solitary bracteolate fertile flower
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals 5, all similar in form
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 5, free or very shortly monadelphous, pseudostaminodes absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 1-ovulate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style slender, stigma capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Sterile flowers of a few narrow bracteoliform processes and numerous glabrous or pilose bristles in several clusters, lengthening as the fruit matures
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a capsule, rupturing in the delicate lower part, each partial inflorescence probably falling intact at maturity.
Distribution
Four species in E and NE Africa.
[FSOM]

Sources

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0