Galium scabrellum K.Schum.

Rubiaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1976

Morphology General Habit

Prostrate, trailing, scrambling or ± climbing plant 0.3–3.6 m. long, the stems very strongly ribbed, pubescent to densely hairy particularly on the ribs and sometimes minutely prickly.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves and stipules in whorls of (6–)8(–10); blades very narrowly elliptic, 0.4–1.7 cm. long (mostly under 1.2 cm.), 0.5–2(–4) mm. wide, produced into a distinct filiform acumen at the apex, cuneate at the base, glabrescent or with rather long hairs all over both surfaces or only on the midnerve above and beneath, sometimes also scabrid above, the margins usually with well-developed closely set reflexed saw-like denticles sometimes obscured by the inrolling of the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences many-flowered terminal and axillary panicles; peduncles 1.5–2 mm. long; pedicels 1.5–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube 0.3–0.5 mm. in diameter, glabrous or hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers dull, pale or bright yellow or cream-coloured; tube 0.2–0.4(–0.5) mm. long; lobes ovate-triangular, 1–1.5 mm. long, 0.45–0.8 mm. wide, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit reddish, each coccus ± 1 mm. in diameter, glabrous or sparsely hairy.

Habitat

Short and coarse grassland in rocky and shrubby places, forest edges and clearings (including bamboo); 1500–3450 m.

Distribution

T1 T4 T7 U2

Rubiaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 5:1. 1989

Morphology General Habit

Perennial.

Morphology Stem

Stems scrambling or ± climbing, c. 0.4–2(3) m. long, ± much-branched, with ± straight, spreading hairs on the 4 distinct angles.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves in whorls of (6)8(10), 1-nerved, (7)10–15 x (0.5)1–2(3) mm., linear to narrowly elliptic, with a distinct, whitish acumen at apex, narrowed to base; upper surface smooth or with a few scattered, ± straight hairs, lower surface with hairs at least on the midrib, the usually reflexed margins with densely spaced recurved prickles.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence ± cylindrical, cymes many-flowered, ultimate branches often ebracteate; peduncles 1–2 mm. long, hairy, pedicels 1–3 mm. long, hairy or glabrous, divaricate in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 2–2.5(3) mm. in diam., rotate, often hairy outside, mostly pale or bright yellow; lobes much longer than wide, ± triangular, acuminate; stamens c. half as long as lobes; ovary c. 0.3–0.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit mostly glabrous; mericarps ± globose, each c. 1 mm. in diam.