Pandiaka carsonii (Baker) C.B.Clarke

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

Amaranthaceae, C. C. Townsend. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb, simple in reduced forms but usually with numerous divaricately branched stems arising from the base; stem and branches slender, drying dark green to blackish, glabrous or thinly pilose in the upper part, striate; rootstock a tuber, spherical to large and parsnip-shaped, up to c. 15 cm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves very variable, from very narrowly linear to broadly obovate, sessile, (6) 20–70 × 1–18 mm., thinly pilose to somewhat floccose-hairy or frequently glabrous or almost so often darkening on drying, the margins sometimes more or less crispate, acute to obtuse or apiculate at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence cylindrical (or occasionally capitate in small forms), 1.5–8 (10) × 1.25–1.75 cm., not involucrate, on a slender peduncle 1–15 cm. long, axis brownish or usually white-pilose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts very variable in size; from c. 2 mm. long, deltoid-ovate and scarcely differing from the bracteoles to broadly lanceolate, up to 7 mm. long and subequalling the perianth, white, firm, glabrous to minutely ciliate, the midrib shortly excurrent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles deltoid-ovate, 1.5–3 mm. long, the nerve shortly to long-excurrent, glabrous or ciliate, falling with the perianth.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal

Tepals more or less equal in length, 5–7 mm. long, with a narrow green central band, a pale midrib and two shorter white nerves, broadly white-bordered (the border of firmer texture in the two outer tepals), shortly and finely mucronate, glabrous or thinly pilose above especially along the firm margins of the central green portion and/or the midrib or extreme apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4–6 mm. long; pseudostaminodes flabellate, 1–1.5 mm. long, with a long-fimbriate dorsal scale.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary obpyriform, c. 1 mm. long, firm in the upper half; style slender, 3.5–4.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule oblong-ovoid with a narrower firm apex, 2.5–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblong-ovoid, 2.25–2.75 mm. long, brown, shining, faintly reticulate.