Ammannia fruticosa (A.Fern. & Diniz) S.A.Graham & Gandhi

Lythraceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Shrub usually c. 1 m. high, sometimes up to 2·25 m., glabrous.

Morphology Stem

Stem greyish, much branched upwards, the branches 4-gonous or narrowly winged.

Morphology Leaves

Cauline leaves 30–35 x 9–12 mm., decussate, elliptic-lanceolate, acute at the apex, margin entire, subcordate at the base, glossy green, 1-nerved, the nerve impressed above, prominent beneath; leaves of branches similar to the cauline ones but smaller (usually 4–6 x 1–5–3 mm.).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Dichasia many, axillary, 1–6-flowered; peduncles c. 2 mm. long; pedicel of the middle flower up to 5 mm. long, those of the laterals c. 2 mm. long; bracteoles c. 0–5 mm. long, lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers homomorphic, (4)5(6)-merous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx c. 4 mm. long, tubular-campanulate, 8, 10 or 12-ribbed; lobes short, triangular, reddish, scarious at the apex; appendages very short.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals c. 3 mm. long, pink, oblong, corrugate, with the median nerve thick beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens twice as many as the calyx-lobes, inserted a little above the base of the calyx-tube (the epipetalous ones inserted slightly above the episepalous ones), the episepalous ones 7 mm. long, c. 1/2 exserted, the epipetalous ones c. 5·3 mm. long and c. 1/3 exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 2 x 1·6 mm., ellipsoid, 3-locular; style 7 mm. long, exceeding the stamens.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule c. 3 mm. in diameter, globose, included in the calyx-tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous, c. 0·5 mm. long.

Lythraceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1984

Morphology General Habit

Almost glabrous much-branched shrub (0.4–)0.9–2.3 m. tall; stems 4-angled or narrowly winged.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves decussate, elliptic-lanceolate, 0.3–3.5 cm. long, 0.15–1.2 cm. wide, acute at the apex, subcordate at the base, entire, glossy, 1-nerved; leaves on branches much smaller than those on stem.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes numerous, axillary, 1–6-flowered; peduncle ± 2 mm. long; pedicels 2–5 mm. long those of pole flowers longest; bracteoles lanceolate, ± 0.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers (4–)5(–6)-merous, probably not heterostylous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube oblong-ellipsoid, 3–3.5 mm. long, 8-, 10- or 12-ribbed; lobes reddish, triangular, 0.5(–0.8) mm. long, scarious at apex, the appendages very short.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals red or pink, oblong, 3–4 mm. long, corrugated, with mid-nerve thickened beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens twice as many as calyx-lobes, inserted near base of tube, alternate ones slightly longer and shorter, the filaments 5.3–7 mm. long, the longest opposite the sepals.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary ellipsoid, 2 mm. long, 1.6 mm. wide, 3-locular; style 7 mm. long overtopping the stamens.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule globose, ± 3 mm. diameter, included in the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous, ± 0.5 mm. long.

Figures

Fig.-9/17–26.

Habitat

River banks, sand banks amongst rocks in river bed with riverine fringe of Tamarindus, Dalbergia, Newtonia, Acacia, etc.; 780 m.

Distribution

T7