Maerua oblongifolia (Forssk.) A.Rich.

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

Morphology General Habit

Scrambling shrub up to 3 m tall; stems and leaves glabrous or rough by short stiff hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple; blade narrowly to broadly oblong or ovate-oblong, c. 15–45 x 6–20(–30) mm, rounded to subacute at the apex, midrib prominent beneath; petiole 2–6(–9) mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers in short dense corymbose racemes; pedicels stout, mostly 5–9 mm long in flower, up to 15–18 mm long in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle cylindrical, widening upwards, 4–10 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 4, 7–12 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4–11 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens many; anthers 1–2.5 mm long; androgynophore exceeding the receptacle by 2–5 mm in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary cylindrical, 2–4 mm long; gynophore 15–20 mm long in fruit, straight

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits cylindrical, 1–3.5 x up to 1.4 cm, very torulose, usually glabrous, with the seeds normally in 4 rows.

Distribution

N1–3; S2, 3 Eritrea, Ethiopia and west to Senegal and Mali, Kenya, Uganda and Arabia

Ecology

Altitude range 0–1420 m.

Vernacular

Galan (Somali-N), hadi bil (Somali-S).

Capparidaceae, J. Elffers, R. A. Graham & G. P. Dewolf. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1964

Morphology General Habit

Scrambling shrub up to 3 m. tall, or suffrutescent with lax sometimes decumbent or short erect branches.

Morphology Stem

Young twigs glabrous or minutely scabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves shortly petiolate, simple; blade narrowly to broadly oblong, 1.5–4 cm. long, 0.6–2 cm. wide, rounded to shortly attenuate at each end or subacute at the apex, sometimes emarginate, rigidly mucronate, leathery, pale green, glabrous, with the midrib prominent beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a dense terminal or short axillary corymbose raceme or the flowers single in the upper leaf-axils; pedicels 3–17 mm. long, glabrous to densely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals (4–)6–14 mm. long, the margin and sometimes the external surface puberulous; receptacle 4–12 mm. long; disk with the free rim scarcely apparent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5–9 mm. long, greenish-yellow.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 30–80; filaments 1.5–3 cm. long, white; anthers 1–2.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary cylindrical, 2–4 mm. long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits cylindrical, 2–3 cm. long, divided into 2–3, somewhat alternating rows of globular sections parallel to the axis, sometimes markedly constricted between, verruculose, usually glabrous.

Habitat

Grassland with scattered trees (Acacia), deciduous bushland and semi-desert scrub in dry, stony and sandy places; 300–1350 m.

Distribution

Sudan and Congo Republics west to Senegal and Mali, also Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somali Republic to Arabia K1 K2 K4 U1 U2 U3

Capparidaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:1. 1954

Morphology General Habit

Low shrub, to 3 ft. high with thick rootstock

Morphology Branches

Stiff branches

Morphology Leaves

Rather thick leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white, fragrant.