Gomphocarpus praticola (S.Moore) Goyder & Nicholas

Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb arising from a stout woody rhizomatous roostock.

Morphology Stem

Stems ascending or erect, 1–3, robust and somewhat fleshy, unbranched, (0.4–)0.6–1 m long, glabrous or rarely with two bands of spreading white hairs along upper parts of stem, glaucous or green

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, held erect, sessile, oblong to elliptic or rarely lanceolate, (5–)6–12(–16) × (1.5–)2–5.5 cm, apex acute or obtuse, base cordate, margins smooth, glabrous, green or glaucous on both surfaces; veins conspicous or obscure

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences extra-axillary with 6–15 flowers in a nodding umbel.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncles 1.5–4.7(–7) cm long, usually much shorter than the subtending leaf, glabrous or softly pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts variable in size even within an inflorescence, filiform to elliptic or oblanceolate, 10–35 × 0.2–10(–15) mm, acute or obtuse, green or glaucous, glabrous but sometimes ciliate towards tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels commonly purple, 2.5–5(18.5) cm long, glabrous or with soft spreading hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes elliptic to obovate, rarely linear, 5–17(–27) × (2–)4–10 mm, apex obtuse or rarely acute, glabrous, green, glaucous, purple or brown.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla united at base for ± 3 mm, green or yellow-green with reddish purple markings outside, papillate towards base; lobes strongly reflexed, ovate, (14–)16–35 × 7–15 mm, acute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona lobes attached 1–2 mm above base of the staminal column, laterally compressed but with the half of the lobe furthest from the column subcylindrical and solid except for the rim, outer margin of lobe drawn in apically towards column, brown or purple with greenish yellow upper margin, (5–)7–12 × (4–)6–9 mm, upper margins generally well above head of staminal column, conspicuously toothed at proximal end and half way along upper margin

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther wings 3–3.5 × 1 mm, outer margin ± straight or weakly curved; anther appendages broadly ovate, 1–1.5 × 1–1.5 mm, obtuse, inflexed above over apex of stylar head; corpusculum black, ovoid, 0.5 × 0.2 mm, with broad translucent wings extending up sides; translator arms ± 0.7 × 0.15 mm, flattened and generally broader distally.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollinia

Pollinia obovate to oblanceolate, 1–1.6 × 0.5 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles fusiform, ± 8 × 2 cm, inflated, usually only one of the pair developing, glabrous, glaucous; fruiting pedicel contorted to hold follicle erect

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds suborbicular, ± 7 × 4.5 mm, with a slightly convoluted, pale and minutely pubescent margin surrounding a verrucose pubescent disc; coma ivory, ± 4 cm long

Figures

Fig 103/8 & 105, pp 424 & 434

Ecology

Grassland or open Brachystegia/ Uapaca woodland on sandy or rocky ground; 1500–2400 m

Distribution

Range: Contiguous upland areas of Zambia, N Malawi, extending westwards through S Congo-Kinshasa into Angola Flora districts: T4