Oxygonum alatum Burch.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Type

Type from South Africa (Northern Cape Province).

Morphology General Habit

A spreading prostrate semi-erect or erect, fleshy annual herb A spreading prostrate semi-erect or erect, fleshy annual herb.

Morphology Stem

Stems pinkish to reddish-purple, up to 50 cm tall, much branched from the base, longitudinally ridged, sparsely to densely covered with white cup-shaped and/or elongated scales Stems pinkish to reddish-purple, up to 50 cm tall, much branched from the base, longitudinally ridged, sparsely to densely covered with white cup-shaped and/or elongated scales.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves fleshy, (14)17–85(125) × (2)4–25 mm, ovate to lanceolate sometimes rhomboid, acute at the apex, attenuate below into a short petiole, entire or shallowly to deeply lobed, the lobes usually further divided, midrib prominent on the undersurface Leaves fleshy, (14)17–85(125) × (2)4–25 mm, ovate to lanceolate sometimes rhomboid, acute at the apex, attenuate below into a short petiole, entire or shallowly to deeply lobed, the lobes usually further divided, midrib prominent on the undersurface.

Morphology Leaves Ocrea

Ocrea greenish-white, membranous, up to 1 cm long, funnel-shaped, glabrescent or covered with cup-shaped and/or elongated scales, truncate and fringed at the apex with red or white rigid setae 2–3.5 mm long, lobed or sometimes entire Ocrea greenish-white, membranous, up to 1 cm long, funnel-shaped, glabrescent or covered with cup-shaped and/or elongated scales, truncate and fringed at the apex with red or white rigid setae 2–3.5 mm long, lobed or sometimes entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers present; perianth 4–5 mm long; lobes 1–2 mm long; filaments 3–3.5 mm long Flowers pedicellate, 2–4 in the axils of bracts, arranged in lax terminal and axillary spiciform racemes 10–25(30) cm long; bracts membranous, 4–5 mm long, obliquely truncate and produced dorsally into a subulate seta 1–2 mm long; pedicels up to 7 mm long, pubescent or with cup-shaped and/or elongated scales Hermaphrodite flowers heterostylous; perianth pink or white, 5-lobed; tube c. 5 mm long; lobes 5–7 mm long and ovate-lanceolate Flowers pedicellate, 2–4 in the axils of bracts, arranged in lax terminal and axillary spiciform racemes 10–25(30) cm long; bracts membranous, 4–5 mm long, obliquely truncate and produced dorsally into a subulate seta 1–2 mm long; pedicels up to 7 mm long, pubescent or with cup-shaped and/or elongated scales. Male flowers present; perianth 4–5 mm long; lobes 1–2 mm long; filaments 3–3.5 mm long. Hermaphrodite flowers heterostylous; perianth pink or white, 5-lobed; tube c. 5 mm long; lobes 5–7 mm long and ovate-lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments 1.5–4 mm long, with a ring of cilia near the base; anthers grey-blue to blackish, 0.5–1 × 0.3–0.5 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 5–7 × 1–1.5 mm; styles of the long-styled flowers 3–3.5 mm long; styles of the short-styled flowers 1–3.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nut red or yellow-brown, (9)10–13 × 9–11 mm, trigonous, winged or not at the angles, sometimes with small spreading prickles in the lower one third, glabrous or with a few scattered cup-shaped and/or elongated scales. Nut red or yellow-brown, (9)10–13 × 9–11 mm, trigonous, winged or not at the angles, sometimes with small spreading prickles in the lower one third, glabrous or with a few scattered cup-shaped and/or elongated scales.

Note

Cup shaped scales found on all parts of the plant, elongated scales absent.

Ecology

In low rainfall areas, in gravel, stony or sandy soils and in disturbed places such as roadsides; 900–1250 m.

Distribution

Also in southern Angola, Namibia and South Africa (North-West Province and Northern Cape Province).

sex Male

Male flowers present; perianth 4–5 mm long; lobes 1–2 mm long; filaments 3–3.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments 1.5–4 mm long, with a ring of cilia near the base; anthers grey-blue to blackish, 0.5–1 × 0.3–0.5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 5–7 × 1–1.5 mm; styles of the long-styled flowers 3–3.5 mm long; styles of the short-styled flowers 1–3.5 mm long.

sex Hermaphrodite

Ovary 5–7 × 1–1.5 mm; styles of the long-styled flowers 3–3.5 mm long; styles of the short-styled flowers 1–3.5 mm long. Filaments 1.5–4 mm long, with a ring of cilia near the base; anthers grey-blue to blackish, 0.5–1 × 0.3–0.5 mm. Hermaphrodite flowers heterostylous; perianth pink or white, 5-lobed; tube c. 5 mm long; lobes 5–7 mm long and ovate-lanceolate.