Cycnium breviflorum Ghaz.

Ghazanfar, S. (2005). A New Species of Cycnium (Scrophulariaceae sensu lato) from Tanzania. Kew Bulletin, 60(3), 461-463. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4111068

Type

Tanzania, Arusha Distr., Oldoinyo Sambu, March 1958, Bally 12003 (holotypus K).

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb up to 30 cm tall with a woody rhizome

Morphology Stem

Stems erect or ascending, simple or branched, often with many stems arising from the base, dark brown to blackish, strigose to hispid, often densely so

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile, opposite, elliptic to ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 4 - 12(- 22) x 1.5 - 3(- 6) mm, margins coarsely and irregularly few-toothed or lobed, base cuneate, apex acute or obtuse, hispid to strigose, often verrucose dull green, drying blackish; venation pinnate, sometimes with the lower pair of secondary veins reaching half way to the tip of the leaf

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a spike or a raceme

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 0- 3 mm, strigose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles linear, 4 - 7 mm, adnate to the base of the calyx tube

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate to shortly tubular in flower, campanulate in fruit; tube obliquely cut, 3 - 5 mm long, ribs distinct or obscure, strigose; lobes 5, triangular to narrowly triangular, 3 - 5 mm long, unequal, the upper half as long as the middle of the lateral ones, erect, not reflexed in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla creamy pink to pink or purple pink; tube straight or slightly curved, gibbous in the upper half near the apex, 10 - 15 mm long, densely pubescent with appressed hairs and short scattered glands; limb 5 - 6 mm long, 8 - 16 mm in diameter, lobes 5, rounded, undulate, sparsely hairy especially on the veins on the outside, glabrous within

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens didynamous; filaments of the shorter pair of stamens 2 - 3 mm long, those of the larger pair ± 4 mm long, the upper pair inserted in the throat; anthers 1.5 - 2 mm long, tip acute to shortly apiculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary compressed, ovate, 1.5 - 2 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 7 - 8 mm long, including the 2 - 3 mm long compressed stigma

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit an obliquely beaked capsule 3 - 4 mm in diameter, beak ± 1.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed ± 1 mm long, testa reticulate.

Distribution

Tanzania and Kenya. So far known to be endemic to Mt Meru and western Kilimanjaro.

Ecology

Grassland and wooded grassland, hemi-parasitic on Barleria prionites (cf. Greenway & Kanuri 13434). Alt. 1200 - 1500 m.

Phenology

Flowering and fruiting: December - April.

Conservation

Least Concern; although the species is very localised in its distribution, it is common where found, and is not threatened.

Vernacular

Kipsigis: Chesalkut.

Note

The new species described above is closely related to Cycnium ajugifolium which is also endemic to Kenya and Tanzania but has a wider distribution range and occupies a much more diverse habitat including dry grasslands, and a wider altitudinal range (900 - 1850 m) than C. breviflorum. C. breviflorum is generally smaller than C. ajugifolium but the main feature that distinguishes it from C. ajugifolium are its smaller, densely pubescent corolla tubes. In his paper Hansen (op. cit.) questions that this species may be an annual. The material I have examined clearly suggests that it is perennial. Of the 13 species of Cycnium found in tropical East Africa, only C. ajugifolium and C. breviflorum are endemic there. But whereas the former is more widely distributed, the latter is localised to Mt Meru and western Kilimanjaro; it is recorded to be common there and therefore at present not at any threat.

Scrophulariaceae, S.A. Ghazanfar, F.N. Hepper & D. Philcox. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2008

Type

Type: Tanzania, Arusha District, Oldoinyo Sambu, Bally 12003 (K!, holo.)

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb up to 30 cm tall with a woody rhizome.

Morphology Stem

Stems dark brown to blackish, erect or ascending, simple or branched, often with many stems arising from the base, strigose to hispid, often densely so

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile, elliptic to ovate to ovatelanceolate, 4–12(–22) mm long, 1.5–3(–6) mm wide, base cuneate, apex acute or obtuse, margins coarsely and irregularly few-toothed or lobed, venation pinnate, sometimes with the lower pair of secondary veins reaching half way to the tip of the leaf, hispid to strigose, often verrucose, dull green, drying blackish

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a spike or a raceme; bracteoles linear, 4–7 mm long, ± 5 mm wide, adnate to the base of the calyx tube; pedicels 0–3 mm long, strigose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate to shortly tubular, campanulate in fruit; calyx tube obliquely cut, 5-lobed, 3–5 mm long, ribs distinct or obscure, strigose; lobes triangular to narrowly triangular, unequal, 3–5 mm long, the upper one reaching the middle of the lateral ones, erect, not reflexed in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla creamy pink to pink or purple pink; tube straight or slightly curved, gibbous in the upper half near the apex, l0–15 mm long, densely appressed hairy with short scattered glandular hairs; limb 5–6 mm long, 8–16 mm in diameter; lobes rounded, undulate, sparsely hairy especially on the veins on the outside, glabrous within

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments of the shorter pair of stamens 2–3 mm long, those of the larger pair ± 4 mm long, the upper pair inserted in the throat.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers 1.5–2 mm long, tip acute to shortly apiculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovary compressed, ovoid, 1.5–2 mm long; style 7–8 mm long, including the 2–3 mm long compressed stigma

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ovoid, 3–4 mm in diameter, obliquely beaked; beak ± 1.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed ± 1 mm long, testa reticulate.

Ecology

Grassland and wooded grassland, noted to be semi-parasitic on Barleria prionites (cf. Greenway & Kanuri 13434); 1200–1500 m

Conservation

Least Concern (LC); localised but common in grassland

Distribution

Range: Very local, not found elsewhere Flora districts: K6 T2

Use

USES: Children chew the flowers to blacken tongue, lips and gums