Lasiosiphon glaucus Fresen.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Type

Type from Ethiopia.

Morphology General Habit

Large much branched shrub 1–6 m high or small tree up to 9 m or higher

Morphology Branches

Branches densely leafy in the upper part; branchlets finely pubescent when young, later glabrescent; bark grey, brown or blackish, smooth to rugose

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, subsessile or with petiole 1–3 mm long; lamina 32–65(84) × 10–26 mm, narrowly elliptic to narrowly or broadly obovate, acuminate to acute, rarely obtuse at the apex, gradually narrowed to the base, ± rigid, glaucous, glabrous or finely pubescent, glabrescent, midrib prominent on the lower surface

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences dense terminal heads 20–50 mm in diameter, 20–50-flowered; peduncle pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 6–12, cream-coloured or salmon-pink, 10–15 × 4–10 mm, elliptic to ovate, slightly coriaceous, softly tomentose on both sides, persistent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 5(rarely 4)-merous, orange or golden-yellow, fading to brown; pedicels 1–2.5 mm long, tomentose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 9–14 mm long with no articulation, the lower part with dense tufts of 2–4 mm long silky hairs, upper part softly tomentose; lobes 2.5–4 × 1.5–2 mm, ovate, rounded, entire or lobed, tomentose outside

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 1–2 mm long, elliptic or spathulate, entire, emarginate or lobed, membranous or fleshy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens in upper row slightly exserted; anthers 1–2 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary pubescent especially at the apex; style 6–8 mm long; stigma globose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed 3–4 × 1.5–2 mm.

Ecology

Growing in edges of mountain forests, in wooded grassland, also around stream beds; c. 1000–2350 m.

Note

Gnidia glauca var. insularis (Gardner) C.C. Townsend, endemic in Sri Lanka, differs from var. glauca in having twigs and leaves ± densely furnished with persistent long appressed hairs. G. glauca is the only species within the genus with this disjunct distribution.

Distribution

Also distributed from Nigeria to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, also in southern India. ZAM N, MAL N, MAL C, MAL S Zambia Mozambique Malawi