Ammannia involucrata S.A.Graham & Gandhi

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

Lythraceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Annual erect herb, 4–26 cm. high.

Morphology Stem

Stem slender, simple to much branched, 4-gonous or narrowly winged, glabrous, scabrous or hairy.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 5–20(25) × 5–10 mm., decussate, sessile, lanceolate to broadly ovate-lanceolate, acute or subacuminate at the apex, margin whitish, cordate at the base (sometimes only the upper leaves), glabrous to ± hairy, 1-nerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Dichasia c. 5-flowered; peduncles 5–27 mm. long, usually rather shorter than the leaves; involucral bracteoles 4–7 × 4–7 mm., broadly cordate, acuminate, cymbiform, ± hairy outside; inner bracteoles 1·5–3·3 mm. long, elliptic to linear, ciliate at the margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4(6)-merous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1·75–2 mm. long, campanulate, 8- or 12-ribbed; lobes c. 0·5 mm. high, triangular; appendages c. 1 mm. long, erect, ciliate at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 1·5–2 mm. long, obovate, rose-coloured, mauve or pink, almost as long as the calyx-tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4–6, rarely 8–12, exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary c. 1 mm. in diameter, subglobular, 2(3)-locular; style 1·5–2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 1·5–1·7 mm. in diameter, subglobose, included.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 0·25 mm. long, brownish, concave-convex.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect annual or ephemeral ± branched herb 3–30 cm. tall; stems subglabrous to ± hairy, the upper ones 4-angled or narrowly 4-winged.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile, decussate, ovate-lanceolate or sometimes lanceolate, 0.5–2.5 cm. long, 0.5–1 cm. wide, acute at the apex, truncate to cordate at the base (at least in upper leaves), glabrous, ± asperulous or ± hairy, 1-nerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4(–6)-merous, subsessile, in ± numerous ± 5-flowered ± capitate dichasia surrounded at the base by 2 imbricate broadly cordate acuminate cymbiform bracts 4–7 mm. long and wide, often ± hairy outside, sometimes white, veined pink beneath; bracteoles linear to elliptic, 1.5–3.3 mm. long, acute, ciliate; peduncles 0.5–2.7 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube campanulate, 1.75–2 mm. long, 8- or 12-ribbed; lobes often red, triangular, 0.5 mm. long, the intermediary appendages erect, ± 1 mm. long, ciliate at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals rose, mauve or pink, obovate, 1.5–2 mm. long, deciduous, ? occasionally lacking.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4–6, rarely 8–12, exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary subglobose, ± 1 mm. in diameter, 2(–3)-locular; style 1.5–2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule subglobose, 1.5–1.7 mm. long, included.

Figures

Fig. 8/12–21.

Habitat

Areas of impeded drainage, boggy grassland, damp sandy places, with grasses and sedges in seepage zones, in Combretum, Commiphora open bushland, Combretum, Xeroderris, Adansonia, Excoecaria bushland, Sterculia, Isoberlinia, Combretum, Terminalia, Acacia woodland, marshy places in Brachystegia woodland; 710–1620 m.

Distribution

T2 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1 U3 U4

Lythraceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:1. 1954

Morphology General Habit

Erect annual, to 8 in. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pink or red

Ecology

In damp places.