Acridocarpus glaucescens Engl.

Malpighiaceae, E. Launert (British Museum (Natural History)). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

Upright sparingly branched shrub, up to 2.5 m. high.

Morphology Branches

Younger branches ± densely ferrugineous- or greyish-sericeous, older ones usually glabrous, lenticellate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina linear, linear-lanceolate, oblanceolate, oblong-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 1.5–6 × 0.5–1.25(–l.5) cm., acute to obtuse, sometimes finely apiculate, cuneate or attenuate at the base, glabrous to densely hairy (see below), rigidly coriaceous, with revolute margins, with 8–12 pairs of lateral nerves, eglandular or rarely with a pair of small glands beneath near insertion of petiole; petiole 1–3 mm. long, canaliculate, glabrous or somewhat sericeous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences on leafy branchlets terminating in few- to many-flowered pyramidal racemes, 3–8(–12) cm. long; rhachis robust, usually ± densely ferrugineous-sericeous; bracts subulate, 2–2.5 mm. long, persistent; bracteoles subulate, up to 1.5 mm. long, eglandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 1.25–1.75 cm. in diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals broadly ovate to ovate-circular, rarely oblong-ovate, 2.5–4 mm. long, ferrugineous-sericeous or glabrescent outside, with a pair of circular glands at the very base (sometimes glands much reduced) or with glands on the commissures (altogether 3–5).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, broadly obovate to subcircular, concave (spoon-like), 6–10 mm. long, shortly clawed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with ovate-oblong anthers 4–5 mm. long; filaments rather thick, ± 1 mm. long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary densely sericeous; styles 2, 0.75–1 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Wing of samara obliquely ovate, obovate-oblong, obovate or elliptic, l.5–2(–2.5) × l.2–l.4(–l.7) cm., sometimes extending round nut to the base.

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

Type

S1, “Dar”, near Baardheere, Riva 200 (FT holo.)

Morphology General Habit

Climbing or suberect shrub; younger branchlets ± densely hairy with ferrugineous or greyish hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blade linear to oblong or narrowly elliptic, 1.5–6 x 0.2–1.8 cm, acute to obtuse at the apex, glabrous to densely hairy, with revolute margins, usually eglandular; petiole up to 3 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes 3–12 cm long, ± densely pubescent; bracts and bracteoles subulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx with 3–5 glands; lobes 2.5–4 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, 6–10 mm long, shortly clawed, slightly fringed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Styles 7.5–10 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Wing of samara obliquely ovate, obovate or elliptic, 1.5–2(–2.5) x 1.2–1.4(–1.7) cm, sometimes clasping the nutlet.

Distribution

C2; S1–3; E Ethiopia and NE Kenya

Ecology

Altitude range 140–500 m.

Vernacular

Ged bured, gomel, kadi-gududis, komel, marmarood, qoomaal (Somali)

Note

Launert in Kew Bull. 19: 351 (1965) recognized three varieties, all occurring in Somalia: var. glaucescens with linear ± glabrous leaves, var. graniticus with oblanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, ± glabrous leaves, and var. ferrugineus with ± densely hairy leaves. Although most specimens can be sorted into one or the other of these categories, the variation seems continuous and I prefer not to recognize any infraspecific taxa.