Capparaceae
Maerua

Maerua subcordata (Gilg) DeWolf

First published in Kew Bull. 16: 82 (1962)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is NE. & E. Tropical Africa to DR Congo. It is a scrambling shrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Spreading shrub, 1–2 m. tall with a woody swollen root, glabrous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, simple; blade broadly ovate to suborbicular, 5–23(–27) mm. long, 4–18 mm. wide, rounded, mucronulate at the apex, rounded at the base, coriaceous, with 2 basal lateral nerves usually prominent; petiole 2–4 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers many, borne singly in the upper leaf-axils; pedicels5–15(–20) mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals generally 3, elliptic, 7–10 mm. long; receptacle 3–6 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 0.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androphore
Androphore ± 2 mm. longer than the receptacle.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynophore
Gynophore 2.2–2.8 cm. long, straight at maturity; ovary spindle-shaped, 4–6 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruits ellipsoid or subcylindrical, ± 2 cm. long, 1 cm. across, beaked, 1-seeded.
Habitat
Deciduous bushland and semi-desert scrub; 100–1200 m.
Distribution
K1 K2 K3 K4 K7 T2 T3 U1
[FTEA]

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
[AERP]

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

Type
N2, “Meid”, Hildebrandt 1544 (B holo., BM K iso.)
Morphology General Habit
Shrub, up to 2 m tall, glabrous, scabrous or rarely rough with short stiff hairs, often glaucous; stems rather short-lived, from a swollen root-crown
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple; blade broadly elliptic or ovate to suborbicular, 7–28 x 4–22 mm, rounded and mucronate at the apex, leathery when mature, midrib and a pair of lateral nerves raised and prominent beneath; petiole (1.5–)2–4 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers single in upper leaf axils; pedicel 5–15(–23) mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle
Receptacle cylindrical, 4–6(–8) mm long when mature
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 3, 7–11 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens numerous; androgynophore c. 2–3 mm longer than receptacle
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary narrowly ellipsoid, 4–6 mm long; gynophore 14–28 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruits ellipsoid, c. 2 x 1–1.5 cm, beaked, orange at maturity, basally dehiscent into 4 valves, 1-seeded.
Distribution
N2; S1, 2; East Africa.
Ecology
Altitude range 60–1000 m.
Vernacular
Moulon, qaalanqal (Somali).
[FSOM]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • 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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. 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 2024. 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