Oldenlandia ichthyoderma Cufod.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb, 5–25 cm tall, from a thin rootstock; stems papillose to shortly hirsute or subglabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile; blade linear-lanceolate, 15–45(–70) x 1–4 mm, acute at the apex, ± scabrid above and on midvein beneath, with revolute margins; stipule sheath 2–5 mm long, with few to several fimbriae 0.5–5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers heterostylous, 5–many in terminal or axillary subsessile heads; pedicels up to c. 1 mm long but occasionally longer

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube ± scabrid to glabrous; lobes 2–3 mm long, joined at the base for c. 0.5–1 mm, with hyaline margins, ± scabrid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white; tube 3–5 mm long, hairy at throat; lobes 1.5–3 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 1.7–2 mm long, scabrid to subglabrous, the beak scarcely raised

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown, c. 0.4 mm long, reticulate.

Distribution

N1–3; C1; S1; S Ethiopia, Kenya

Ecology

Altitude range 150–1500 m.

Vernacular

Hashash (Somali).

Note

The Somali plants are generally small and with comparatively short stipule fimbriae and have mostly been called O. capitata. As the variation seems continuous this species is not recognised here.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb 15–25 cm. tall, with usually several stems from a thin woody rootstock; stems simple or sparsely branched, ± 4-angled, scabrid-papillate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades linear-lanceolate, 1.5–5(–7) cm. long, 1–3.5 mm. wide, acute and apiculate at the apex, narrowed to the base, sessile, scabrid with short papilla-like hairs above and on the main nerve beneath; stipule-sheath 3–5 mm. long, ± scabrid, with 5–7 setae 2–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers heterostylous, in condensed sessile terminal heads up to 1.1 cm. wide; pedicels 1–2 mm. long. Filaments exserted ± 0.3–0.7 mm. in short-styled flowers, the style 1.7–2 mm. long, pilose; stigma-lobes 0.5–0.8 mm. long. Anthers included in long-styled flowers, the style exserted 1.8 mm., the stigma-lobes 0.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube turbinate, 1.4 mm. long, very slightly scabrid; lobes ovate-lanceolate, 3–3.3 mm. long, 1.4 mm. wide, joined at the base for ± 0.4–1 mm., green in the middle but with broad hyaline margins 0.75 mm. wide, scabrid on the margins and midribs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white; tube 3–3.3 mm. long, hairy at the throat; lobes oblong-elliptic, 1.5–1.8 mm. long, 1.2 mm. wide, uncinate at the apex, with longer papilla-like hairs inside.

Short-styled

Filaments exserted ± 0.3–0.7 mm. in short-styled flowers, the style 1.7–2 mm. long, pilose; stigma-lobes 0.5–0.8 mm. long.

Long-styled

Anthers included in long-styled flowers, the style exserted 1.8 mm., the stigma-lobes 0.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 1.7–2 mm. long, 2.2 mm. wide, ± glabrous.

Habitat

Acacia-Commiphora open bushland; 100–950 m.

Distribution

K1 K4 K7