Polygala arenaria Willd.

Polygalaceae, A. W. Exell. Flora Zambesiaca 1:1. 1960

Morphology General Habit

Annual 5–25 cm. tall with spreading habit, dichotomously or trichotomously branched; stem apparently terminating in an inflorescence and growth continuing by lateral branches.

Morphology Stem

Stems crisped-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1–6 x 0.2–2 cm., linear-elliptic to elliptic, fairly densely pubescent to nearly glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white, dull orange or pale purple, deflexed, with pedicels c. 3 mm. long, in very congested terminal racemes usually 1.5–3 cm. long, often globose, bracts and bracteoles persistent, 1.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Posterior sepal 2–2.5 mm. long; wing sepals 5–7 x 3–4 mm., obliquely elliptic, usually somewhat pilose towards the base; anterior sepals 1.5–2 mm. long, free.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Upper petals 2 x 0.9 mm., obovate-elliptic, constricted below the middle; carina 2.5 x 1 mm., crest 1.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 3.5 x 2.5 mm., broadly obovate-elliptic in outline, wing less than 0.5 mm. broad, ciliate on the margin; caruncle 0.5 mm. long, appendages very small.

Polygalaceae, Jorge Paiva. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2007

Type

Type: Guinea, sine loc., sine coll. (B!, holo.)

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb, 5–40 cm tall

Morphology Stem

Stems slender, of sympodial growth, pseudo-di- or trichotomously branched, apparently terminating in an inflorescence and growth continuing by lateral branches, usually exceeding the primary one, crispedpubescent to nearly patent-pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, petiolate (petiole 1–3 mm, crisped-pubescent), linear-elliptic to oblanceolate, 10–60(–80) × 2–20 mm, subacute to rounded, base cuneate, densely crisped-pubescent to nearly glabrous on both sides

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white, dull orange or lilac to pale purple, in dense terminal racemes, often globose-ovoid, 1.5–3 cm long, peduncle 3–10 mm, crispedpubescent, rachis crisped-pubescent; bracts lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm long, usually pubescent, persistent, bracteoles lanceolate, 1–1.3 mm long, usually pubescent, persistent; pedicels 2–3(–5) mm, usually crisped-pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Posterior sepal keelshaped, 2–2.5(–3) × 1 mm, pubescent or glabrescent; wing sepals suborbicular to obliquely elliptic, (3.5–)5–7 × (2.5–)3–5(–5.5) mm, shortly stipitate, somewhat pubescent; anterior sepals keel-shaped, 1.2–2 × 1–1.3 mm, free

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Upper petals obliquely elliptic, constricted below the middle, (2–)2.5–3 × 1–1.5 mm; carina 2.5–3 × (1–)1.5–2 mm; crest 1–2 mm long, fimbriate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule broadly obovate-elliptic in outline, (2.5–)3–4 × 2–3 mm, narrowly winged (wing 0.2–0.3 mm wide), ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ovoid-ellipsoid, 2–2.5 × 1–1.3 mm, white-sericeous; caruncle subsymmetric, 0.5–0.8 mm long, with 3 small appendages

Figures

Fig 5: 5, p 11

Ecology

Grassland, scattered tree grassland, ruderal sites; 0–1700 m

Distribution

Range: Widespread throughout tropical Africa, from Mauritania to Ethiopia and S to Angola and Mozambique Flora districts: U1 U2 U3 U4 K2 K7 T1 T3 T4 T6 T8

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