Celosia anthelminthica Asch.

First published in G.Schweinfurth & auct. suc. (eds.), Beitr. Fl. Aethiop.: 176 (1867)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Ethiopia to Rwanda and N. Tanzania, S. Yemen. It is a scrambling subshrub or shrub and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome.

Descriptions

Amaranthaceae, C.C. Townsend. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1985

Morphology General Habit
Much-branched scrambling or straggling, bushy herb, prostrate to erect or scandent, ± 0.3–3 m. and probably more.
Morphology General Indumentum
Stem, branches and inflorescence-axis ridged, glabrous to rather densely furnished with multicellular brownish hairs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves cordate-ovate to deltoid-lanceolate, subacute to acuminate, glabrous or with scattered multicellular hairs on the veins of the lower leaf surface; lamina of leaves from central part of stem 1.5–8 × 1–5 cm., very shortly cuneate to truncate or cordate at the base, with a slender 1–4 cm. petiole; upper and branch leaves smaller, more shortly petiolate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence of axillary and terminal elongate thyrses 8–40 cm. long, formed of distant few- to rather many-flowered cymose clusters which may be loose with slender branches up to ± 5 mm. long or dense and congested; clusters thus varying from ± 3–18 mm. in diameter.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts and bracteoles lanceolate-acuminate, 1–1.5 mm., glabrous, membranous with a brownish or yellowish midrib.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth-segments oblong, ± 2.5 mm., concave and strongly hooded at the apex, glabrous, 1-nerved, pink, white or greenish, drying straw-coloured with a darker or greenish central vitta.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Free portion of filament longer than the sheath, sinuses slightly rounded with no intermediate teeth.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigmas 2(–3), 0.75 mm., divergent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style practically absent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 2–4-ovulate, thickened above.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule oblong-clavate, exserted, 2–2.5 mm., the apex spongy-incrassate so that the style is frequently inserted in a definite depression.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 1–1.25 mm., compressed, shining, black, ornamented with a very fine reticulate pattern which is faintest in the almost smooth centre of the seed.
Figures
Fig. 1.
Habitat
Frequently in shade, rambling over bushes in scrub or in relict forest, along streams, growing in clumps in grassland or sprawling over rocks; 500–2280 m.
Distribution
K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 U1
[FTEA]

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
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0