Peponium pageanum C.Jeffrey

Cucurbitaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Stems prostrate, much-branched, arising from perennial rootstock, spreading-setulose, sometimes shortly and sparsely so.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina 5–7·5 × 6–9·5 cm., broady ovate in outline, cordate, sinuate-denticulate, setulose or shortly setulose, becoming scabrid-punctate above, hispid-setulose on veins beneath, rarely unlobed, usually palmately 3–5-lobed to half-way or more, lobes ovate-triangular to elliptic in outline, rounded to acute, shortly acuminate, apiculate, often 3-lobulate, sometimes deeply so.

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petiole 1–2·2 cm. long, setulose or shortly so.

Morphology General Tendrils

Tendrils weak to rather stout.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

male racemes 6–8-flowered; peduncle 4–8 cm. long; pedicel of basal solitary flower 1–6 cm. long, of racemose flowers 4–11 mm. long; bracts 4·5–10 mm. long, broadly elliptic, obtuse, apiculate, inconspicuously few-toothed on upper margins. Receptacle-tube 28–32 mm. long, setulose or shortly so; lobes 2–7 mm. long, lanceolate, more or less recurved. Petals 3·5–3·7 cm. long, c. 2 cm. broad, yellow. Female flowers unknown.

sex Male

male racemes 6–8-flowered; peduncle 4–8 cm. long; pedicel of basal solitary flower 1–6 cm. long, of racemose flowers 4–11 mm. long; bracts 4·5–10 mm. long, broadly elliptic, obtuse, apiculate, inconspicuously few-toothed on upper margins. Receptacle-tube 28–32 mm. long, setulose or shortly so; lobes 2–7 mm. long, lanceolate, more or less recurved. Petals 3·5–3·7 cm. long, c. 2 cm. broad, yellow.

sex Female

Female flowers unknown.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits 7 × 3·5 cm., ellipsoid, more or less rounded except at extreme apex; fruit-stalk stout, 2–3 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 7 × 4·2 × 1·3 mm.