Burnatia enneandra Micheli

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

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petioles up to 40 cm long; leaf-blade c. 13–16 x 1–7 cm, very variable in shape, acute at the apex, cuneate to rounded at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Male inflorescence c. 20 cm long, of 1–5 whorls of branches; female inflorescence shorter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers with outer tepals 2–3 mm long and inner tepals c. 1 mm long Female flowers with outer tepals c. 1.5 mm long and inner tepals minute or lacking

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets 8–20, 1.5(–2.5) mm long.

Distribution

S1 widespread in tropical Africa south to South Africa.

Ecology

Altitude range c. 200 m.

Vernacular

Baar, baar-biyood (Somali).

Alismataceae, Susan Carter. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1960

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petioles up to 40 cm. long, usually about 30 cm.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina

Leaf-blade acute, very variable in shape, from ovate with rounded base, to linear-lanceolate with decurrent base, e.g. from 13 × 7 cm. to 16 × 4 cm. and 14 × 1 cm.; nerves 5 or 7, the median up to 1.5 mm. wide on the lower surface.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Male inflorescence (15–)20(–30) cm., of 1–5 whorls of branches; female inflorescence shorter; lowest bracts 1–5 cm. long; bracts and sepals whitish, sometimes tinged violet.

sex Male

Male flowers:bracts 1.5–2.5 mm. long; pedicels 3–10 mm. long; sepals erect, ovate, 2–3 mm. long; petals smaller, delicate, persistent, about 1 mm. long; stamens with filaments 1.5 mm. long; anthers 1 mm. long; abortive carpels oblong, compressed, 1–1.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers:bracts 1 mm. long; sepals ovate, spreading, 1.5 mm. long; petals, if present, 3, minute and scale-like, found only on very robust specimens; carpels obovoid, compressed; achenes 8–20, usually about 12, 1.5(–2.5) mm. long, flanges almost circular. Male flowers:bracts 1.5–2.5 mm. long; pedicels 3–10 mm. long; sepals erect, ovate, 2–3 mm. long; petals smaller, delicate, persistent, about 1 mm. long; stamens with filaments 1.5 mm. long; anthers 1 mm. long; abortive carpels oblong, compressed, 1–1.5 mm. long.

sex Female

Female flowers:bracts 1 mm. long; sepals ovate, spreading, 1.5 mm. long; petals, if present, 3, minute and scale-like, found only on very robust specimens; carpels obovoid, compressed; achenes 8–20, usually about 12, 1.5(–2.5) mm. long, flanges almost circular.

Figures

Fig. 7, p. 14.

Habitat

Swamps, shallow lakes, and the edges of rivers and slow-flowing streams; 50–1410 m.

Distribution

widespread, from Ghana to the Sudan, and southwards to South Africa K1 K4 P T2 T3 U1 U2 U3 U4

Alismataceae, F. N. Hepper. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968

Morphology General Habit

An aquatic with tufted leaves about 1 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Slender branched inflorescences (at least the male) about 2 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small, white or pink

Ecology

At margins of muddy pools.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/185704/120123512

Conservation

LC - least concern

J. R. Timberlake, E. S. Martins (2009). Flora Zambesiaca, Vol 12 (part 2). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Type

Type Sudan, Kordofan, near Arashkol Mtn., 17.x.1839, Kotschy 192 (BM holotype, K, G, M, P, W).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb up to 1 m high, glabrous

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizome ovoid to globose 0.8–2 cm in diameter, sometimes poorly developed, covered with abundant somewhat fleshy roots

Morphology Leaves

Leaves wholly or partially submerged; petiole (8)10–45(60) cm long, flattened; leaf-blade very variable, 10–25 0.5–4(7) cm, linear to narrowly lanceolate, or rarely ovate-lanceolate, decurrent to cuneate, or rarely rounded at base, subacute at apex, with 3, 5 or 7 nerves from base, the median up to 1.5 mm wide on the lower surface

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 1–3 per plant; peduncle up to 85 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small, the bract and sepals whitish or tinged violet

sex Male

Male flowers pedicel 6–10(20) mm long, filiform; sepals 2–3 mm long, ovate, concave; petals 1–2.5 mm long, narrow; stamens with filaments 1.5 mm long, flattened, whitish; anther 1 mm long, whitish to yellowish; sterile carpels 1–1.5 mm long, compressed, greenish Male inflorescence a panicle 15–30(40) cm long, with 1–5 whorls of branch; lowest bract 9–35 mm long

sex Female

Female flowers sepals 1.5 mm long, ovate, concave; petals, if present, minute and scale-like; carpels 8–20, but often c.12 on a short torus, obovoid, compressed Female inflorescence 5–15 cm long; lowest bract 3–30(39) mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes 6–20, but usually c.12, 1.5 mm long, black.

Distribution

Caprivi, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi. Widespread in tropical Africa.

Ecology

On the edges of slow-flowing rivers and streams, shallow lakes, water holes, dambos, and swamps; 100–1750 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes Widespread species; not threatened.