Dicliptera verticillata (Forssk.) C.Chr.

Acanthaceae, H. Heine. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Stems several-angled almost woody below, decumbent, 1-2 ft. long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Red flowers in whorls running into terminal spikes.

Flora Zambesiaca Acanthaceae (part 2) by Iain Darbyshire, Kaj Vollesen and Ensermu Kelbessa

Morphology General Habit

Erect or decumbent annual herb, 5–50(90) cm tall; stems 6-angular with pale ridges, largely glabrous or sparsely retrorse-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves often immature or absent at flowering; blade ovate or elliptic, 1.5–7(10.5) × 1–4(5.5) cm, base attenuate, apex (sub)attenuate, apiculate, surfaces sparsely antrorse-pubescent, soon glabrescent except for short hairs along the margin; lateral veins 4–6 pairs, conspicuous beneath; petiole 5–25(50) mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence axillary, developing even at lowermost nodes, (1)2–3 umbels of 3–5 cymules per axil, umbels often becoming compounded and forming dense axillary fascicles; primary peduncle 1–5(20) mm long, shortly pubescent; main axis bracts linear-lanceolate, 2.5–7.5 mm long; cymules subsessile, bract pairs slightly to strongly unequal, ratio 1.2–1.5 : 1, green with a pale-hyaline margin towards base, larger bract elliptic, obovate, oblanceolate or linear, 5–8.5(10) × 1–2.7(4) mm, apex attenuate into a curved mucro, margin often densely pilose-ciliate below, hairs shorter towards apex, surface with hairs of variable length, longest on prominent midrib; bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 4–6 mm long, green with hyaline margin, indumentum as cymule bracts or with additional short glandular hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes 2.5–3.5 mm long, sparsely pubescent and with minute glandular hairs externally.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 4–6 mm long, pink to purple (rarely –white), pubescent externally, in our region often found only in bud and then probably cleistogamous; chasmogamous flowers with tube 3–4 mm long; lip held in upper position oblong, 1.5–2.5 × c.1 mm; lip held in lower position broadly flabellate, 1.2–1.8 × 1.5–3 mm, curved around stamens.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal filaments 0.8–1.6 mm long, pubescent above; anther thecae 0.2–0.4 mm long, slightly overlapping, highly oblique.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 3–4.5 mm long, puberulous, sometimes with short glandular hairs at apex; placental base elastic.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 0.75–1 mm in diameter, with minute slender hooked tubercles.

Distribution

Widespread in tropical Africa from Cape Verde and Senegal to Somalia, south to Namibia and South Africa; also in Madagascar, tropical Arabia and India.

Ecology

Found in a variety of open and partially shaded habitats, including dry woodland, grassland and riverbanks, often weedy on disturbed ground; 150–1400 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Widespread and common; Least Concern.