Polygala melilotoides Chodat

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

Type

Type: Congo-Kinshasa, Katanga, Senga West, Kassner 2938 (B†, holo.; BM!, lecto.; BR!, isolecto.)

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb, 3–15 cm tall

Morphology Stem

Stems slender, usually pseudo-di- or trichotomously branched, apparently terminating in an inflorescence and growth continuing by lateral branches, usually exceeding the primary one, crisped-pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, petiolate (petiole 1–2 mm, crisped-pubescent), elliptic to broadly elliptic, 10–30(–40) × (3–)5–12(–20) mm, subacute to rounded, base cuneate, glabrous or very minutely pubescent on both sides

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers whitish, pinkish or lilac, in much congested terminal racemes, often subglobose, 7–20 mm long, rachis crisped-pubescent; bracts lanceolate, 0.7–1 mm long, usually pubescent, persistent; bracteoles lanceolate, 0.5 mm long, usually pubescent, persistent; pedicels 1.5–3 mm, usually crisped-pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Posterior sepal keel-shaped, 1.5–2 × 0.5–1 mm, pubescent or glabrescent; wing sepals elliptic to suborbicular, (2–)2.5–3.5 × 2–3 mm, pubescent towards the base; anterior sepals keel-shaped, 1–1.5 mm long, free

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Upper petals obliquely obovate, constricted below the middle, 1.5–2.2 × 0.7–1.5 mm, pubescent at the base; carina 2.5–3 × 1.2–1.5 mm; crest 0.7–1 mm long, fimbriate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule elliptic to ovate in outline, 1.5–2.5 × 1.5–2 mm, glabrous, narrowly winged (wing 0.2 mm wide)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ovoid to subglobose, 1–1.8(–2) × 0.6–0.8(–1) mm, glabrous, rarely puberulous; caruncle subsymmetric, subglobose, 0.4–0.6 mm long, with the appendages hiding the caruncle, 0.4–0.5 mm long

Figures

Fig 5: 7, p 11

Ecology

Wooded grassland and grassland; 800–1700 m

Note

Polygala welwitschii with its two subspecies and P. melilotoides are very close, and not easy to distinguish. The seed is the most important organ to differentiate them.

Distribution

Range: Tropical Africa, S of the Equator and North of the tropic of Capricorn Flora districts: U3 T4 T7 T8

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual 3–10 cm. tall, similar in habit and in the morphology of the flower to the preceding species but with usually relatively broader leaves, 10–20 x 5–8 mm., elliptic to broadly elliptic, and slightly smaller, glabrous seeds, 1.8 x 0.8 mm.