Emilia serpentina Mesfin & Beentje

Tadesse, M., & Beentje, H. (2004). A Synopsis and New Species of Emilia (Compositae-Senecioneae) in Northeast Tropical Africa. Kew Bulletin, 59(3), 469-482. doi:10.2307/4110954

Type

Ethiopia, Keffa, Soddo road, above Nadda, 7500 ft, 26 Oct. 1954, Mooney 6205 (K, holotypus; ETH, isotypus).

Morphology General Habit

Trailing perennial herb with, at intervals, erect branches 20 - 50 cm high

Morphology Stem

Stem one to several from the root apex, up to 2 m long, wiry, 2.5 - 4 mm in diameter at base, lower parts dark purplish-brown, devoid of leaves or with shrivelled leaves, branched, glabrous, branches leafy, glabrous to sparsely pilose

Morphology Leaves

Lower and middle cauline leaves pseudo-petiolate, pandurate, spathulate or almost deltoid with a long pseudopetiole, 1.5 - 8.5 x 0.5 - 4 cm, glabrous, light purplish on the lower surface, pseudo-petiole up to 4 cm long, winged and auriculate-semi-amplexicaul, glabrous to sparsely pubescent; upper leaves sessile, ovate to narrowly ovate, 1 - 10 x 0.2 - 4 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula 2 - 8 in open terminal cymes, very rarely solitary, discoid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncle bracteate, 1.5 - 11 cm long, slender, glabrous; involucre cylindric-campanulate, (4 -)5 - 6.5 x 3 - 4.5 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle convex, 2.7 - 3.5 mm wide; phyllaries (7 -) 8 (- 10), pale green, 4 - 7 x 0.7 - 1.5 mm, glabrous or pubescent throughout, hairs ciliate, purple at apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Florets pale to bright violet, red-violet, or mauve-pink; corolla tubular, 5.5 - 7 mm long, glabrous, lobes 1.2 - 2 mm long, glabrous; anthers 1.5 - 2 mm long, connective ± 0.5 mm long, collar ± 0.5 mm long; style bifurcate, 6.5 - 7 mm long, arms 0.8 - 1 mm long, apex truncate with few long papillae on margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes light brown, slightly curved, oblong-elliptic, 1 - 1.4 x 0.4 - 0.5 mm, 5- ribbed, ribs papillose or shortly hairy; pappus 4 - 5 mm long.

Distribution

South and south-eastern Ethiopia.

Ecology

Grassland, secondary grassland, secondary bushland, in ruderal situations and very often on steep slopes; alt. (1350 -)1900 - 2750 m.

Conservation

Least concern (LC).

Note

This species is distinct within the group of NE African species without ray florets and with white, pink or mauve disc florets in its perennial and trailing or creeping habit, coupled to rather small phyllaries and achenes. 12.