Polygala usafuensis Gürke

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

Type

Type: Tanzania, Mbeya District: Usafwa, Goetze 1032 (B†, holo.; BM!, lecto.; E, P, isolecto.)

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb, 1.5–2 m tall

Morphology Stem

Stems erect, robust, simple or few-branched, densely patent-pubescent, rarely with a few crisped hairs, to glabrescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, shortly petiolate (petiole 0.5 mm), lanceolate to very narrowly elliptic, 10–70 × 0.5–10 mm, acute, base cuneate, pubescent to glabrescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers orange-pink to salmon-pink, in many-flowered simple or few-branched terminal racemes up to 35 cm long, rachis densely pubescent; bracts lanceolate, 1–2 mm long, pubescent, persistent; bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 0.5–1 mm long, pubescent, persistent; pedicels 2–3 mm, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Posterior sepal keel-shaped, 3–5 × 1–2 mm; wing sepals broadly elliptic, 6–8 × 4–6 mm; anterior sepals keel-shaped, 2.5–3.5 × 1–2 mm, free

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Upper petals obliquely obovate, 4–7 × 2–3 mm, with a finger-like lobe at the apex, pubescent on the back; carina 6–8 mm long, pubescent on the back; crest 2.5–4(–5) mm long, fimbriate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule oblong-obovate in outline, 5–6(–7) × 2.5–3(–3.5) mm, yellowish when dried, unwinged or very narrowed winged, ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds cylindric, (3–)3.5–5 × 1–1.5 mm, with white silky hairs, 1.5 mm long; caruncle subsymmetric, kidney-shaped, with scarcely developed appendages

Figures

Fig 7: 3, p 14

Ecology

Open woodland and wooded grassland, sometimes in marshes or seepage grassland; 600–2500 m

Distribution

Flora districts: T4 T5 T7 T8 Range: From Sudan and Congo-Kinshasa to Angola and Mozambique

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual 1.4–2 m. tall; stems crisped-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1–7 x 0.2–0.8 cm., linear to very narrowly elliptic, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers salmon-pink to orange-red, pedicels 2–3.5 mm. long, in elongated, terminal racemes up to 30 cm. long with densely pubescent rhachis and persistent bracts 2 mm. long and bracteoles 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Posterior sepal 3 mm. long; wing sepals 5–8 x 3–6 mm., broadly elliptic to sub-orbicular, pubescent; anterior sepals 2 mm. long, free.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Upper petals 4.5 x 2.5 mm., irregularly obovate with a finger-like projection at the apex and one margin bent over; carina 8 x 2.8 mm., minutely ciliate on the upper margins, crest 4–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 5–6 x 2.2–3 mm., narrowly obovate-oblong in outline, ciliate on the margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2.5 x 1 mm., cylindric, densely sericeous; caruncular appendages scarcely developed.