Pachypodium saundersii N.E.Br.

Apocynaceae, A. J. M. Leeuwenberg and F. K. Kupicha et al.. Flora Zambesiaca 7:2. 1985

Morphology General Habit

Low succulent shrub 0·5–2 m. high with swollen, little-branched stems arising from a large tuber.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous, bark smooth, pale grey, deeply longitudinally wrinkled on drying.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 25–78 x 10–25 mm., thin-textured, drying blackish, often ephemeral; petiole 0–3 mm.; lamina narrowly obovate with apex obtuse and mucronate or cuspidate-acute, base tapering; upper surface glabrous, midrib ± level, lateral veins obscure; margin usually tuberculate-hispid; lower surface completely glabrous or with hispid midrib, the latter raised, other nerves usually obscure; leaf sometimes strongly undulate so that it cannot be pressed flat without folding. Leaves spirally arranged, each lamina subtended by a pair of spines, these 10–40 mm. long, stout, glabrous, straight, angled slightly upwards, with confluent swollen bases; a third, much smaller, spine also usually present proximal to the petiole.

Morphology General Shoots

Short shoots, with crowded slender spines up to 1 cm. long, present in axils of main stem leaves.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal, many-flowered, very condensed; axes glabrous; flowers pink to purple on outside of corolla, white above, greenish within.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx c. 4 mm. long, glabrous, segments imbricate, triangular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla lobes 1/2-2/3 as long as tube, asymmetrical, ± triangular with one straight and one strongly rounded, crisped edge; both surfaces glabrous. Corolla tube 30–42 mm. long, narrow in the lowest third then widening abruptly and gradually narrowing towards the apex, externally glabrous, internally pilose with long weak hairs above and below the stamens.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers sessile, inserted at base of swollen part of corolla tube, 9·5–11 mm. long, each comprising a sterile sagittate structure bearing two thecae 6–6·5 mm. long on its ventral surface and a retinacle.

Morphology General Scales

Five partially united oppositipetalous glabrous scales c. 1 mm. long borne on receptacle internal to the corolla.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary of 2 completely free, compressed-ovoid, glabrous carpels, each unilocular with ventral placenta bearing ¥ (c. 200) ovules.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 1, slender, glabrous, attached to the two carpels at their apices; clavuncle annular, joined to the anther retinacles by a rubbery latex; style 2-lobed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit of 2 horn-like follicles up to 15 cm. long containing ¥ seeds.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 7 mm. long, compressed-ovoid, with apical coma of pale golden hairs up to 5 cm. long.