Nyctaginaceae
Phaeoptilum

Phaeoptilum spinosum Radlk.

First published in Abh. Naturwiss. Vereins Bremen 8: 436 (1883)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Angola to S. Africa. It is a shrub and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome.

Descriptions

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
Shrub up to 3 m. tall.
Morphology Branches
Branches terminating in spines with crowded, alternate, spine-like lateral branches.
Morphology General Bark
Bark greyish yellow to greyish brown.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves greyish green, 5–35 × 1–4 mm., linear-cuneiform, coriaceous, apex rounded or emarginate, glabrous to crisped pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers creamy yellow, scented.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth 6–8 mm. long, densely crisped pubescent to tomentose on outside; lobes rounded to (in female flowers) triangular, slightly cucullate, curling inwards as anthocarp develops.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens usually 4 longer, 6–12.5 mm. long and 4 shorter, 4–10 mm. long; filaments filiform; anthers 0.5–2 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 1.5–3.5 mm. long, fusiform-elliptic; style 1.5–3.5 mm. long; stigma multifid; ovule attached to one side of base of ovary.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Anthocarp 15–25 × 12–20 mm. (incl. wings), pubescent to glabrescent, yellowish-green turning pink, red or purple with age; wings more or less semi-circular, parchment-like; central portion fusiform; fruit 7–8 × 2.5–3 mm., oblong-elliptic in outline, square in cross section, remains of reduced stamens around base; seed more or less filling fruit cavity.
[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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 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