Commicarpus pentandrus (Burch.) Heimerl

First published in H.G.A.Engler, Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2. 16c: 117 (1934)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tanzania to S. Africa. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Nyctaginaceae, Christopher Whitehouse. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1996

Morphology General Habit
Prostrate, scrambling or ascending herb with stems up to 2 m., glabrous to rarely pilose on new growth.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves ovate, up to 7 cm. long, 4 cm. wide, the base cordate, truncate or cuneate, apex acute to apiculate, margins sinuate; petiole up to 2 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence verticellate or, in East Africa, a simple umbel with 2–6 flowers; peduncle up to 3.5 cm. long; pedicels up to 1.5 cm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers infundibuliform, (9–)10–19 mm. long, 5–15 mm. wide; upper perianth pink to purple, with green base and stripes, 8–17 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4–6, exserted.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style exserted.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Anthocarps clavate, 8–10 mm. long, 2–4 mm. wide, with a ± 5 thick stalked glands at the apex and a few scattered sessile glands below.
Figures
Fig. 3/4–5.
Habitat
Grassland and woodland, often on damp ground or near rivers; 500–1450 m.
Distribution
T1 T2 T5 T6 T7
[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]

Nyctaginaceae, B. L. Stannard. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit
Herbs forming mats up to 2 m. across from woody rootstock.
Morphology Stem
Stems procumbent, branching, crisped pubescent to glabrescent.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 1–4 (6) × 0.7–3.5 (6) cm., ovate, broadly elliptic or subcircular, fleshy, crisped pubescent on both surfaces (often particularly along veins) to more or less glabrous, base cordate to rounded, apex acute to rounded, often apiculate, margins irregularly serrulate; petioles 1–12 (15) mm. long, crisped pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences verticillate or irregularly branched, long pedunculate, peduncles crisped pubescent to glabrescent, stout.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts 3–9 mm., linear-lanceolate, pubescent (often particularly along margins).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels 1–10 mm. (terminal flowers sometimes subsessile), crisped pubescent to glabrescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth 9–15 mm. long, lower portion sulcate, with usually 5 prominent viscid glands around apex andsmaller less conspicuous glands over rest of surface, glabrous, upper portion 8–12 mm. long, spreading 8–12 mm. wide, narrowly infundibuliform with distinct basal tube, purple, magenta or pinkish red, pubescent to glabrescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens (4) 5 (6), 11–17 mm. long, anthers 0.7–0.8 × 1.2–1.5 mm., transverse elliptic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 0.75–1 mm. long, ellipsoid, stipitate, glabrous; style 14–20 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Anthocarps 7–10 × 1.25 × 2.5 mm., clavate, glabrous to puberulous, with 5 larger prominent or more or less thick stalked viscid glands around apex, smaller less prominent viscid glands alternating with these at apex and over rest of surface.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • 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 2024. 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 2024. 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
  • Plants and People Africa

    • Common Names from Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com/
    • © Plants and People Africa http://www.plantsandpeopleafrica.com http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/