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

Lythraceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Aquatic caespitose herb up to 45 cm. long (probably longer).

Morphology Stem

Stem simple or few branched, 4 mm. in diameter, 4-gonous, rooting and leafless below, leafy above; internodes up to 4·5 cm. long, very short towards the apex.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves up to 6 x 0·3 cm., attenuated to an acute apex, expanded at the base, ascending or erect, distinctly 1-nerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers (3)4(5)-merous in many-flowered very dense glomerules; outer bracteoles up to 3·5 × 0·75 mm., foliaceous, linear, the inner ones minute (c. 1 mm.), linear, thinly membranous, whitish; pedicels up to 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1·5 × 1 mm., campanulate; lobes short or very short, c. 1 mm. wide, slightly apiculate; appendages short, scarcely exceeding the lobes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 1 mm. long, violet, corrugated, oblong, sometimes slightly emarginate at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens usually 4, 2–2·25 mm. long, inserted a little below the middle of the tube and exserted for c. 1·5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary c. 0·5 mm. long, obovoid, 2–4-ovulate; style 2 mm. long, almost as long as the stamens.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule c. 2 mm. long, ellipsoid, scarcely exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds often 2, c. 1·75 × 1 mm., dark violet.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial branched or unbranched erect or decumbent herb, 12–45 cm. tall, often growing in water; stems sometimes caespitose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves linear, 2.5–6 cm. long, 1.5–3 mm. wide, acute at the apex, usually widened at the base to up to 3 times the width at the middle but some leaves scarcely if at all widened; midrib impressed or channelled above, prominent beneath and often margined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Nodal pair of flower clusters up to 8 mm. across; pedicels obsolete or up to 1 mm. long (fide Fernandes); large bracteoles 3–3.5 mm. long, 0.7–1.5 mm. wide, inner ones ± 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate; tube 1.5 mm. long, 1 mm. wide; lobes and appendages very short.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals lilac, violet or reddish, oblong, 1–1.25 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens ± 4, 2–2.3 mm. long, inserted near the middle of the tube and exserted ± 1–1.5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary obovoid, 0.5 mm. long; style 1.5–2 mm. long, almost as long as the stamens.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ellipsoid, ± 2 mm. long, scarcely exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark violet, 2–4, 1–1.75 mm. long, 0.5–1 mm. wide.

Figures

Fig. 14.

Habitat

Small pools on flat granite rocks in wet grassland; 1500 m.

Distribution

T5

Lythraceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Caespitose herb up to 40 cm. long.

Morphology Stem

Stems yellowish, slender, flexible, simple, leafless and rooting below, leafy towards the apex; internodes up to 6 cm. long, very short towards the apex.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves up to 2·5 cm. long, linear, acuminate at the apex, widened and reddish at the base, folded or canaliculate above, keeled beneath, the lower ones patent, the upper ones ascending.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4-merous in dense many-flowered glomerules; outer bracteoles 3× 1 mm., linear, acute at the apex, widened at the base, membranous, canaliculate above, keeled beneath, usually violet, the inner ones subulate, whitish or rose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx up to 1·5 mm. long, campanulate, lilac or rose; lobes short, broadly deltate, apiculate; appendages short, as long as the lobes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals c. 1 mm. long, oblong, pale lilac, corrugated.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, exserted c. 1·5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 0·5 mm. long, obovoid, 2-ovulate; style ± 1·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule c. 0·5 mm. long, exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2, c. 1·5 × 0·75 mm., brownish, concave-convex.

Lythraceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial erect herb up to 25 cm. high.

Morphology Stem

Stem not or somewhat thickened, unbranched and rooting at the nodes towards the base, simple or often branched further up, the branches ascending, decussate; internodes up to 3·5 cm. long, very short towards the apex.

Morphology Leaves

Basal leaves 2, c. 17 × 4 mm., opposite, at the lowest node between the roots, oblong, rounded at the apex, membranous, 1 -nerved; leaves of second node c. 6 × 1·5 mm., linear, thinly membranous; upper cauline leaves and those of the branches up to 4 × 0·2 cm., linear, acute or subacute at the apex, widened at the base, suberect or erect, 1 -nerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4 (5)-merous, in many-flowered glomerules; outer bracteoles c. 2 × 0·5 mm., linear, acute at the apex, thinly membranous, whitish or pale rose; inner bracteoles similar to the outer ones but progressively smaller and thinner.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1·25 mm. long, broadly campanulate; lobes deltate, equalling c. 1/4 of the tube; appendages inconspicuous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 0·75 mm. long, lilac, corrugated.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, with the filaments 1-2 mm. long, exceeding the lobes; anthers 0·25 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary obovoid, 2–5-ovulate; style 1–1·5 mm. long, equalling the anthers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule scarcely exserted, with the walls thinly membranous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2–4, c. 1 × 0·75 mm., dark-brown, ovate, curved.

Lythraceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Annual procumbent herb, 25 cm. long or more.

Morphology Stem

Stems c. 2·5 mm. in diameter, ascending, rooting towards the base; internodes up to 4 cm. long, shorter towards the apex.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves up to 4·5 × 0·3 cm., acute at the apex, widened at the base, distinctly 1-nerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4-merous in very dense many-flowered glomerules; outer bracteoles up to 3 × 1·5 mm., lanceolate, acute at the apex, thinly membranous, usually rose-pink (?); inner bracteoles similar to the outer ones but smaller.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1·5 mm. long, campanulate, almost truncate; lobes very short, apiculate; appendages short.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4, c. 1·25 mm. long, oblong, white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, exceeding the calyx-lobes by c. 1 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary c. 0·5 mm. long, obovoid, 2-ovulate; style c. 2 mm. long, equalling or slightly exceeding the stamens.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule ellipsoid, scarcely exceeding the calyx-lobes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2, c. 1 × 0·5 mm., dark-violet, concave-convex.