Distephanus biafrae (Oliv. & Hiern) H.Rob.

Compositae, C. D. Adams. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

A scandent shrub like the last (Vernonia biafrae)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Slightly larger more brightly coloured flower-heads

Morphology Leaves

Coarsely toothed or sinuate-margined leaves

Ecology

At the margins of montane forest.

Compositae, C. D. Adams. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

A climbing or scrambling shrub with ribbed puberulous branches

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Copious panicles of purple campanulate flower-heads 1/4 in. wide.

Compositae, G. V. Pope. Flora Zambesiaca 6:1. 1992

Morphology General Habit

A diffuse ± scandent shrub to c. 3 m. high.

Morphology Branches

Branches alternate, striate, pubescent, glandular.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves membranous, petiolate; petiole to c. 1.5 cm. long; lamina to c. 7 x 4.5 cm., deltate-ovate, apex acute, base truncate to cordate and very narrowly decurrent on the petiole, repand-lobulate or coarsely toothed about the lower margins, entire towards the apex, rarely all entire; upper leaves smaller, ovate-lanceolate and rounded at the base, often entire; sparsely pilose on both sides, hairs densest on nerves, or glabrescent; lower 2 pairs of lateral nerves arising close together near the base, not pronounced.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula numerous, grouped in moderately dense 5–30-capitulate clusters 3–6 cm. across, or capitula in large terminal panicles; capitula stalks slender to c. 10 mm. long, bracteate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Involucre

Involucres to c. 7 x 4–8 mm., obconic campanulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Phyllaries

Phyllaries several-seriate, sparsely puberulent and glandular outside, sometimes weakly ciliolate, scarious subhyaline on the margins, sometimes ± expanded towards the apex; the outer 1–2 mm. long, ovate-lanceolate, acute, extending onto the capitulum stalk; the inner phyllaries progressively longer, to c. 6 mm. long, lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate-elliptic, obtuse.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Florets 8–10 per capitulum.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corollas pale-mauve to creamy-white, c. 6 mm. long, narrowly tubular but widening slightly to apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes pale-brownish, 2.5–3 mm. long, narrowly cylindric, tapering somewhat to the base, sharply narrowly 5-ribbed, sparsely hispidulous or glabrescent; outer pappus of short linear seta-like scales, inner of white barbellate setae 5–6 mm. long.

Compositae, H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Scandent or straggling softly-woody shrub 0.7-6 m tall; stems brittle, shortly pubescent with asymmetrically T-shaped hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate, (broadly) ovate, 1.3-7 cm long, 0.8-5 cm wide, base cuneate, rounded or subtruncate, margins entire to coarsely sinuate-serrate or paucidentate, apex obtusely acuminate or acuminate-attenuate, apiculate, sparsely pubescent and glabrescent above, shortly finely pubescent beneath; petiole 0.2-2.5 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula in copious divaricate terminal and upper axillary compound corymbiform cymes, stalks of individual capitula ascending-pubescent; involucre campanulate to cylindrical, 5-9 mm long; phyllaries 3-5-seriate, pallid with darker midrib, purple-tinged especially in upper part, on margins and on mid-line, at least the outer thinly pubescent, ovate, obtuse to acute, sometimes apiculate, ciliate on margins (rarely completely glabrous), glandular, inner obtuse to rounded, sometimes apiculate or acuminate, almost glabrous, 3.6-7.8 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Florets 8-10 per capitulum; corolla pale mauve or purplish, rarely white, 5-8.5 mm long, lobes glabrous, glandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes 2-3.6 mm long, sharply 5-7-ribbed, shortly ascending-pubescent or sparsely so to glabrous; outer pappus of oblong narrow laciniate scales, 0.4-1 mm long, inner pappus white, 4.2-7.2 mm long.

Habitat

Forest margins, thickets, swamp and river margins, moist grassland; 1050-2400 m

Distribution

K3 K4 K5 T1 T3 T7 U2 U3 U4 widespread in tropical Africa