Podostemaceae
Leiothylax

Leiothylax drummondii C.Cusset

First published in Adansonia, n.s., 20: 204 (1980)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is SW. Tanzania, Central Zambia. It is a hydroperennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Podostemaceae, C. Cusset. Flora Zambesiaca 9:2. 1997

Morphology General Habit
Thalloid part foliaceous.
Morphology Stem
Stems ± densely caespitose, up to 50 cm long, branched.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves exstipulate, 2–6.5 cm long, dividing dichotomously 2–3 times; leaf segments up to c. 2 mm wide, linear.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Spathellas in clusters along the stems, 1–2.5 mm long, subspherical, sessile; flower reflexed within the spathella before anthesis.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicel elongating to c. 10 mm after anthesis, bearing the flower erect.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals 2, minute, one on each side of the andropodium, 0.3–0.4 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2, longer than the ovary; filaments joined for over half their length.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary spherical, c. 1.2 mm in diameter, borne on a gynophore 1–1.5 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Styles 2, linear, 0.7–0.8 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule spherical, smooth, dehiscing by 2 equal caducous valves.
[FZ]

Podostemaceae, H. J. Beentje, M.Sc., Ph.D., F.L.S. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit
Thalloid part foliaceous, lobed; stems caespitose, to 50 cm long, branched.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves dividing dichotomously 2–3 times, 2–6.5 cm long, the leaf segments linear, 0.1–?2 mm wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Spathellas in clusters along the stem, subspherical, sessile, 1–2.5 mm in diameter.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicel elongating to 7–9 mm at anthesis and to 10 mm in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals 2, minute, subulate, 0.3–0.4 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2, the filaments up to 0.8 mm long, joined for over half their length.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary globose, 1.1–1.2 mm in diameter, on a stalk 0.3–1.5 mm long; stigmas 2–4, linear, 0.7–0.8 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule globose, smooth, dehiscing by 2 equal caducous valves; seeds many, black, ± 0.25 mm long and 0.1 mm wide.
Figures
Fig. 4 (page 10).
Habitat
On rocks in fast-flowing river; ± 750 m
Distribution
T7
[FTEA]

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: low confidence
[AERP]

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

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/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