Caryophyllaceae
Polycarpaea

Polycarpaea somalensis Engl.

First published in Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 48: 381 (1912)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Somalia. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome.

Descriptions

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: low confidence
[AERP]

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

Type
Ruspoli & Riva 1716 (B holo. destr.; FT iso.).
Morphology General Habit
Perennial with long woody taproot; all parts glabrous; stems ± prostrate, becoming woody with age, lower internodes conspicuous, bare, nodes conspicuously swollen
Morphology Leaves
Leaves in whorls of 3–8 per node, oblanceolate to obovate, 6.5–18 x 3–6 mm, base tapering into indistinct petiole, tip acute to acuminate, fleshy; stipules ovate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Cymes ± capitate, up to 13 mm wide, internodes swollen Cymes usually 1 per node, peduncle 10–35 mm long, not articulated
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts and sepals similar, scarious, white, translucent except for narrow brown midrib; bracts ovate, c. 1.2 x 1.2 mm, slightly acuminate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals lanceolate, up to 2.5 mm long, 2 outer shorter, unequal, base rather swollen
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals sometimes fewer than sepals, c. 1 mm long, oblong-lanceolate, entire
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 5
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style c. 0.5 mm long, stigma capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule ± ovoid, c. 1/2 as long as sepals, valves separating completely, persistent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds few, sometimes apparently solitary, c. 0.5 mm long, smooth, brown.
Distribution
C1; S2 not known elsewhere.
Ecology
Altitude range 2–20 m.
[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

  • 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