Maerua decumbens (Brongn.) DeWolf

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub, up to 1.5 m tall, glabrous, scabrous or rough with short stiff hairs, often glaucous; branches ascending or spreading

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple; blade lanceolate to broadly elliptic or ovate, 6–25 x 3–15 mm, acute to obtuse and mucronate, stiff, leathery, midrib distinctly raised beneath, lateral nerves visible at least near petiole; petiole (2–)3–4.5(–5) mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers single in upper leaf axils; pedicel (8–)14–25(–30) mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle shortly cylindrical, 1.5–3.5 mm long in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 3, (9–) 12–15 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens c. 40–45; androgynophore 0.5–1.5 mm longer than receptacle

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary narrowly ellipsoid, 3–4.5 mm long; gynophore 15–22 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits globose or almost so, 2–3 x up to 2.5 cm, not or faintly beaked, breaking up irregularly at maturity, 1–2-seeded.

Ecology

Altitude up to 1900 m.

Distribution

?N Kenya Ethiopia N1, 2; C1, 2

Vernacular

Hule, malud, shifawin (Somali).

Note

Most populations in Somalia have scabrous stems as the type, while the populations in southern Ethiopia have smooth stems and approach M. edulis (Gilg & Bened.) DeWolf in East Africa and southwards to Transvaal.