Canscora diffusa (Vahl) R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult.

The Useful Plants of Boyacá project

Conservation

Not Evaluated.

Morphology General Habit

Herb or liana.

Ecology

Alt. 3000 - 3750 m.

Distribution

naturalised in Colombia.

Gentianaceae, P. Taylor. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Erect herb up to 2 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

A much-branched many-flowered inflorescence

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white or lilac.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 3000–3750 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Bogotá DC, Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Meta, Nariño, Santander, Tolima.

Habit

Herb, Liana.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, native grassland, artificial - terrestrial.

Gentianaceae, J. Paiva and I. Nogueira. Flora Zambesiaca 7:4. 1990

Morphology General Habit

Annual erect herb, up to 35 (70) cm. tall, much branched.

Morphology Stem

Stem slender, 4-angled, glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Upper leaves sessile, the lower shortly petiolate; petiole up to 5 mm. long; lamina 1–3 (4) x 0.5–1.5 cm., ovate-elliptic to elliptic, acute at the apex, largely cuneate at the base, 3–5 nerved from the base, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers very numerous, pink, mauve or white, in lax somewhat diffuse, leafy cymes; bracts 4–8 x 2–5 mm., sessile, ovate, acute; pedicels 5–15 mm. long, filiform, not winged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 4–5 mm. long, narrow, scarcely swollen towards the base, not winged; teeth subulate; 1.5–2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 5–6 mm. long; lobes 1.5–2 x 1–1.5 mm., unequal, ovate obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments 0.4–0.9 mm. long; anthers 0.25–0.35 x 0.25 mm., ellipsoid; sterile stamens 1–2.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 0.3–0.4 mm. long, cylindric; style 1–1.5 mm. long, linear; stigmatic lobes, 0.4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 4–5 mm. long, cylindric.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds, 0.2 mm. in diam., numerous; testa minutely faveolate.

Gentianaceae, Sileshi Nemomissa. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2002

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb, to 70 cm high.

Morphology Stem

Stem slender, branched from the base, ridges smooth or minutely winged.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves membranous, ovate or ovate-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, 6–48 mm long, 4–18(–23) mm wide, acute, cuneate at base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences dichasial cymes, diffuse, sometimes ± slightly contracted; bracts 4–8.5 x 2–4(5) mm, ovate, acute; pedicels 5–10 mm long, very slender.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers usually 4-merous (rarely 5-merous), irregular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 4–7 mm long; lobes unequal, linear-lanceolate, 1–2 mm long, ± 1 mm wide, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube cylindrical, 4–7 mm long; lobes unequal, 2 shorter and 2 longer, 2.2–4 mm long, ± 1–2 mm wide, emarginate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments unequal, 1 longer, always inserted higher up in the corolla tube, ± 0.4–0.8 mm long, 3 shorter, 0.2–0.3 mm long, inserted lower down; anthers up to 0.5 mm long, oblong, 1–2 perhaps sterile.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary up to 3.2 mm long; style 1.2–1.8 mm long; stigma 0.3–0.5 mm long, bilobed, lobes unequal, papillose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule oblong to ellipsoid, 3.8–11 mm long, ± 3 mm diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous, up to 0.3 mm in diameter, surface reticulate-pitted.

Figures

Fig. 12 (p. 41).

Habitat

Stream-banks; 950–1050 m

Distribution

T4 T7 widespread in tropical Africaalso in India, SE Asia and Australia

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: confident

Gentianaceae, J. Paiva and I. Nogueira. Flora Zambesiaca 7:4. 1990

Morphology General Habit

Annual erect herb, up to 30 (35) cm. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stem slender, 4-angled, glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Upper leaves sessile, the lower shortly petiolate; petiole up to 5 mm. long; lamina 1–3.5 x 0.5–1.5 (2.5) cm., ovate-elliptic to elliptic, acute at the apex, widely cuneate at the base, 3–5 nerved from the base, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers very numerous, pink, pinkish-white or white, in slender leafy cymes; bracts 3–5 x 1.5–3 mm., sessile, ovate, acute; pedicels 4–12 mm. long, slender, not winged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 2–2.5 mm. long; teeth deltoid acute, 0.75–1.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 2.5–3.5 mm. long; lobes 1.5–2 x 1–1.5 mm., obovate-elliptic, oblong, emarginate or bifid at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens all alike and fertile; filaments 0.5–0.7 mm. long; anthers 0.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 0.2–0.3 mm. long, cylindric; style c. 1 mm. long, linear; stigmatic lobes c. 0.3 mm. long, obovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 3–3.5 mm. long, cylindric.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 0.2–0.35 mm. diam., subglobose, numerous, minutely scrobiculate.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.