Polygalaceae
Polygala

Polygala mendoncae E.Petit

First published in Bull. Jard. Bot. État Bruxelles 26: 259 (1956)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is E. Angola to Zambia. It is an annual or subshrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical 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: threatened. Confidence: low confidence
[AERP]

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

Morphology General Habit
Annual 1–1.5 m. tall.
Morphology Stem
Stems with short, crisped pubescence interspersed with longer patent hairs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 2–6 x 0.2–1.2 cm., linear or linear-lanceolate to very narrowly elliptic becoming broader towards the base of the stem, crisped-pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers white, pink, crimson or mauve, pedicels 3–5 mm. long, in elongated, terminal racemes up to 40 cm. long, with densely pubescent rhachis and persistent bracts 2–3 mm. long and bracteoles 1–1.5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Posterior sepal 4 mm. long, keel-shaped; wing sepals 7–8 x 6.5–7 mm. (up to 9 x 8 mm. in Angolan material), broadly obovate to suborbicular; anterior sepals 3–4 mm. long, free, keel-shaped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Upper petals 5–6 x 1–2 mm., ligulate, curved almost at right angles; carina 7–8 mm. long, crest 3–4 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 8.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 5–6 x 3–4 mm., obovate in outline, ciliate on the margin.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 3 x 1 mm., cylindric, with long, white, silky hairs; caruncular appendages scarcely developed.
[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

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • 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 2025. 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 2025. 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