Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug.DC.

Aïzoaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1961

Morphology General Habit

An upright, spreading or prostrate very nearly glabrous diffuse subsucculent herb; branches 5–80 cm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or apparently verticillate, petiolate, 10–51 mm. long (including petiole of 0–5 mm.), 4–12.5 mm. broad, the blade narrowly elliptic, oblanceolate-elliptic, oblanceolate-oblong or oblong-ovate, plane, entire or denticulate, subacute or acute and obscurely apiculate at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers inconspicuous, greenish or pinkish white, in rather lax fascicles at the nodes, 1–15 per node, the pedicels 4.5–18.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 5, free; staminodes 0–4, bifid; stamens 4–10.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary of 3 united carpels.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruiting calyx 1.5–2.5 mm. broad, 3.5–5 mm. long.

Figures

Fig. 5/8–9, p. 14.

Habitat

Dry river-beds and -banks and by open water, especially on sandy soils; also a weed of cultivation; 0–1000 m.

Distribution

pantropical K4 K7 P T2 T3 T4 T6 T8 Z

Molluginaceae, M. L. Gonçalves. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Decumbent or prostrate creeping herb, glabrous or with appressed hairs especially on youngest parts or in axils, with many stems up to 50 cm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or in whorls of 4–6, unequal; laminas 5–40 × 2–18 mm., lanceolate, obovate, spathulate, elliptic-oblong to almost orbicular, entire or obscurely serrulate in upper 1/2; apex usually acute, often mucronate; base cuneate, gradually narrowed into a short pedicel; young leaves with a few hairs on midrib, glabrescent, sometimes with many appressed woolly crisped white hairs in axils and on lamina.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small, whitish or cream, in groups of 1–? at nodes, on pedicels 2–14 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth-segments 5, up to 5 mm. long, free, persistently surrounding the fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes

Staminodes 0.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3–10.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary of 3 united carpels; stigmas 3.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit up to 5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown with rows of small tubercles; aril less than 1/3 the length of the seed.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/136663101/136663107

Conservation

LC - least concern