Pandiaka schinzii (Standl.) ined.

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

Morphology General Habit

Weak perennial, straggling or scandent, 0.3–1.2 m, rooting at the lower nodes, much-branched; stem and branches subglabrous to ± densely pilose with fine appressed hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves elliptic to lanceolate, (2–)4–10 x (1–) 1.3–4.2 cm, sparingly to moderately appressed-pilose, acuminate to rather blunt, cuneate and petiolate below

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence silvery- or yellowish-green to pale mauve, c. 2–26 x 1.2–1.4 cm, much elongated in fruit, axis lanuginose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers spreading, finally indurate at the base and ± deflexed; tepals narrowly oblong-lanceolate, the 2 outer 4.5–7 mm, 3–5-nerved with the nerves frequently branched above, densely lanuginose except at the aristate tip; inner 2 not aristate, 3-nerved, chiefly lanuginose on the central dorsal surface; central tepal intermediate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Pseudostaminodes with a densely long-fimbriate dorsal scale

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style slender, 2–3.5 mm, (?always) red.

Distribution

N3; Kenya, Tanzania

Ecology

Altitude c. 380 m.

Amaranthaceae, C.C. Townsend. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1985

Morphology General Habit

Weak-stemmed perennial herb, scrambling over other vegetation or straggling, sometimes in thick masses, 0.3–1.2 m., considerably branched, rooting at the lower nodes; stem and branches striate, sometimes reddish at least below, subglabrous to rather densely pilose with fine appressed hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves elliptic to lanceolate, (2–)4–10 × (1–)1.3–4.2 cm., thinly to moderately appressed pilose, paler on the lower surface, acuminate to rather blunt at the apex, cuneate at the base with a distinctly demarcated ± 4–12 mm. petiole.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence silvery–or yellowish-green to pale mauve, elongating in fruit, 2–26 × 1.2–1.4 cm., subsessile or on a short peduncle to ± 1 cm. long; axis lanuginose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts ovate, 2.5–4 mm., membranous-whitish, ± densely lanuginose, gradually narrowed above to the short arista formed by the excurrent nerve.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles broadly cordate-ovate, 3 4 mm., lanuginose, more abruptly narrowed to the longer, sharp, sometimes recurved arista.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers truncate and finally indurate at the base, attached to the inflorescence-axis by a broadly conical process.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal

Tepals narrowly oblong-lanceolate; 2 outer 4.5–7 mm., densely lanuginose except at the pale-stramineous or pinkish aristate tips, with a rather broad but incurved hyaline margin, 3–5-nerved with the midrib and 2 principal lateral veins frequently branched above; 2 inner slightly shorter and narrower, the hyaline margins as wide as the green 3-nerved central portion, ± pilose or lanate chiefly on the upper part of the central dorsal surface, not aristate; central tepal intermediate, usually lanate at least along one margin as well as above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth and bracteoles falling together in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3–4 mm., (? always) red; pseudostaminodes ± 1.5 mm. long, with a short incurved denticulate lobule at the tip and a densely long-fimbriate dorsal scale.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary turbinate, often reddish, ± 1.5 mm..

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style slender, 2–3.25 mm., (? always) red.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Ripe capsule and seed not seen.

Habitat

Usually in moderately dry country on sandy ground, more rarely on dried-out black cotton soil, in seasonal river beds, river and lake shores, riverine woodland and scrub, also in grazed and valley grassland; 320–1820 m.

Distribution

K4 K6 T1 T2 T5 T7