Capparaceae
Maerua

Maerua brunnescens Wild

First published in Bol. Soc. Brot., sér. 2, 32: 42 (1958)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Mozambique. It is a shrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/32156/9684213

Conservation
DD - data deficient
[IUCN]

Capparidaceae, H. Wild. Flora Zambesiaca 1:1. 1960

Morphology General Habit
Small shrub up to 2 m. tall, glabrous except for the sepal-margins; branches brownish, smooth, erect or sometimes sarmentose.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple; lamina 2.5–7 x 1.8–3.5 cm., ovate, broadly oblong or broadly elliptic, apex usually obtuse or refuse, mucronulate, base rounded, margin cartilaginous, becoming brown when dry, nerves in 5–6 pairs, slightly prominent on both sides; petioles up to 9 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence racemose, terminal or axillary, up to 20 cm. long; pedicels 5–6 mm. long; bracts up to 6 mm. long, subulate or the lower ones like the leaves but smaller.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle
Receptacle 4.5 mm. long, 2.5 mm. wide at the mouth, cylindric, widening slightly at the mouth, with c. 12 longitudinal ribs.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals c. 8.5 x 3.5 mm., narrowly oblong-ovate, apex acute, mucronate, margin shortly lanate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 0.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androgynophore
Androgynophore exserted from the receptacle, 6 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens c. 70; filaments 1 cm. long; anthers 1.5 x 0.7 mm., elliptic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary on a gynophore 1–1.2 cm. long and slightly sulcate below, oblong-ovoid; ovules 26–30 on 2 placentas; stigma sessile, capitate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit c. 2.8 x 1.8 cm., oblong-ovoid, slightly verrucose.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 7–10, c. 6.5 mm. in diam., subglobose, pale brown, slightly rugose.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

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

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 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 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0