Commicarpus Standl.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herbs, shrublets or subshrubs, sometimes scandent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, leathery or ± succulent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers in axillary or terminal umbels or whorls that are sometimes combined into terminal panicles; bracts small, lanceolate, usually soon falling

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth-limb trumpet- or funnel-shaped, very delicate, white, pink, magenta or purple

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2–6, unequal, exserted

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Anthocarp fusiform or clavate, obscurely 10-ribbed/grooved, glabrous, with 1–several whorls of large, dark, very sticky gland-warts, those near the apex sometimes stalked.

Distribution

About 36 species found throughout the tropics, but with the main concentration of species in NE Africa.

Note

The genus is sometimes included in Boerhavia, but is easily distinguished and generally considered distinct.

Nyctaginaceae, B. L. Stannard. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herbs or subshrubs.

Morphology Stem

Stems long, slender, erect, reclining or climbing, often much branched.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite in (sub) equal pairs, petiolate, often fleshy, usually entire or repand, rhaphides often visible on inferior surface in dried state.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences umbellate, verticillate, irregularly branched or mixed, pedunculate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small, fugacious, hermaphrodite, usually pedicellate; each pedicel bracteate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth often with rhaphides clearly visible over surface, lower portion constricted above ovary with glands over surface often particularly around apex, greenish, persistent, upper portion petaloid, coloured, infundibuliform, shallowly lobed, sometimes with distinct basal tube, caducous after anthesis.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 2–5 (6), exserted; filaments filiform, often unequal, connate into short sheath at the base; anthers dithecous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary usually ellipsoid, often stipitate, 1-ovulate; style filiform, exserted; stigma capitate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Anthocarps cylindrical, fusiform, clavate or turbinate, more or less 10-sulcate, with variously arranged, large, viscid, sessile or stipitate glands.