Oxygonum schliebenii Mildbr.

Polygonaceae, R. A. Graham. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1958

Morphology General Habit

A straggling, perhaps climbing, perennial.

Morphology Stem

Stems decumbent, rather woody towards the base, varying from densely pubescent with brown hairs to glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Ocrea

Ocreae 0.5–0.7 mm. long, ± densely pubescent, membranous, terminally truncate with a fringe of rather wavy setae of similar length.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile, rather like those of O. salicifolium, but broader, elliptic, lanceolate, or ovate-elliptic, 5–6 × 1.1–1.8 cm., very acute, terminally mucronate, marginally entire or slightly sinuous, the midrib of lower face often pale brown, glabrous or thinly pubescent on the midrib below.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence slender, elongated, somewhat arcuate, 50 or more cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts glabrous, fringed with setae 1–1.25 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels pubescent; those of male flowers 3–6 mm. long; those of hermaphrodite flowers noticeably very long, 17–24 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Tepals of long-styled flowers 2 mm. long, linear-lanceolate; styles (only long styles seen) 3.75 mm. long, connate for 1.5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit fusiform, densely pubescent when young, later glabrescent, up to 6 mm. long, armed at the centre with 3 spreading prickles, 3 mm. long, on the angles and with 1–3 intermediate subsidiary prickles up to 2 mm. long on each intervening face.

Habitat

“Roadsides”; perhaps a plant of disturbed ground; 0–1400 m.

Distribution

no certain records apart from the above and the type, but likely to be more widespread T7 T8