Brillantaisia pubescens T.Anderson ex Oliv.

Acanthaceae (part 2), Kaj Vollesen. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2008

Type

Type: Tanzania, Morogoro District: Ukutu [Khutu], Kilengwe [Kirengwe], Speke & Grant s.n. (K!, holo.)

Morphology General Habit

Much branched viscid aromatic annual (? sometimes short-lived perennial) herb; stems erect, trailing or scrambling, up to 1 m tall, puberulent and with usually dense thin glossy white pilose hairs up to 4 mm long, with scattered stalked capitate glands

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole up to 7 cm long; lamina broadly ovatecordiform, largest 8–21(–30) × 3.5–14 cm, apex subacute to subacuminate with an obtuse tip, base truncate to cuneate, margin entire to slightly crenate, beneath puberulous with long thin hairs and with scattered broad hairs, above subglabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle open, 10–40 cm long; indumentum as stems but with denser capitate glands; primary bracts elliptic or broadly so, from leaf-size down to 5 × 4 mm near apex, indumentum as leaves or denser and with capitate glands; secondary bracts elliptic to orbicular, 2–10 × 2–6 mm; pedicels 0.5–1 mm long, puberulous and with capitate glands

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx puberulous, with long pilose hairs and with usually numerous stalked glands; lobes linear, tapering or spathulate, ventral and lateral 8–10(–13) mm long, dorsal 12–14 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla with upper lip white and lower pale mauve to violet or purple, 12–17(–20) mm long, finely puberulous outside; tube 5–10 mm long; lower lip 7–12(–15) mm long, with long stiff hairs in central part, lobes ovate, 1–3 mm long; anthers 1–2.5 mm long, glabrous; staminodes minute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 10–15 mm long, the valves 2–3 mm wide, finely glandular-puberulous in apical half and ± scattered non-glandular hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed ± 1.5 mm long

Ecology

Riverine forest and thicket, riverbanks, Acacia woodland on alluvial clay; 25–450(–800) m

Distribution

Range: Congo-Kinshasa, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar Flora districts: T3 T6 T8

J. R. Timberlake, E. S. Martins (2013). Flora Zambesiaca, Vol 8 (5) Acanthaceae Part 1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Type

Tanzania, Morogoro Dist., Ukutu, Kirengwe, n.d., Grant s.n. (K holotype).

Morphology General Habit

Much branched viscid aromatic annual or perennial herb; stems erect, trailing or scrambling, up to 1.5 m tall, finely puberulous and with scattered to dense glossy white pilose hairs to 4 mm long, scattered stalked capitate glands

Morphology Leaves

Leaves subglabrous to pubescent beneath with long thin hairs and scattered broad hairs, subglabrous above; petiole to 8.5 cm long; lamina ovate- cordiform or broadly so, largest 7–13.5 × 4–9 cm; apex subacute to subacuminate with an obtuse tip; base truncate to attenuate; margin entire to slightly crenate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle open, 10–35 cm long; indumentum as stems but with denser capitate glands; primary bracts elliptic or broadly so, from leaf-size down to 5 × 4 mm near apex, indumentum as leaves or denser and with capitate glands; secondary bracts elliptic to orbicular, 2–15 × 2–10 mm; pedicels 0.5–1 mm long, puberulous, with capitate glands

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent with long pilose hairs and numerous stalked glands; sepals linear, slightly to distinctly spathulate, rarely tapering, ventral and lateral 7–13 mm long, dorsal 10–19 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla pale mauve to mauve, purple or bluish purple, 13–18(20) mm long, puberulous outside; tube white, 5–14 mm long; lower lip 6–25 mm long, with long stiff hairs in central part, lobes ovate, 1–5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 1.5–2 mm long, glabrous; staminodes minute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 11–16 mm long, valves 2–3 mm wide, finely glandular puberulous in apical half

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1.5–2 mm long.

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique. Also in Congo, Tanzania and Madagascar.

Ecology

Riverine forest and thicket, riverbanks and riverbeds, alluvial Acacia woodland and bushland; 50–1000 m.

Conservation

Widespread; not threatened.