Chascanum pinnatifidum (L.f.) E.Mey.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol 8, Pt 7. Avicenniaceae, R. Fernandes. Nesogenaceae, M.A. Diniz. Verbenaceae, R. Fernandes. Lamiaceae, R. Fernandes. 2005.

Type

Type from South Africa (Cape Prov.).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 10–14 mm long and c. 1.4 mm in diameter, straight, puberulous outside; teeth 0.5–0.9 mm long, slightly unequal, subulate; fruiting calyx up to 3 mm in diameter, oblong-ovoid, somewhat gibbous at the base behind, yellowish, splitting nearly to the apex, plicate above, the teeth conduplicate and connivent Calyx 10–14 mm long and c. 1.4 mm in diameter, straight, puberulous outside; teeth 0.5–0.9 mm long, slightly unequal, subulate; fruiting calyx up to 3 mm in diameter, oblong-ovoid, somewhat gibbous at the base behind, yellowish, splitting nearly to the apex, plicate above, the teeth conduplicate and connivent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla cream or yellowish-green, with a slender tube abruptly expanded into a flat limb; tube 1.8–2.5 cm long and c. 0.75 mm in diameter, straight Corolla cream or yellowish-green, with a slender tube abruptly expanded into a flat limb; tube 1.8–2.5 cm long and c. 0.75 mm in diameter, straight.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary c. 1.4 × 0.7 mm; style c. 16 mm long

Morphology General Habit

Spreading, perennial herb 20–60 cm high, with a woody taproot up to 20 cm long; plant (except on corolla) puberulous, the indumentum of minute or uniformly short, erect or somewhat retrorse, stiff eglandular hairs. Spreading, perennial herb 20–60 cm high, with a woody taproot up to 20 cm long; plant (except on corolla) puberulous, the indumentum of minute or uniformly short, erect or somewhat retrorse, stiff eglandular hairs

Morphology Stem

Stems up to 8 mm thick at the base, with few to many main branches from near the base; branches erect or spreading, terete or obtusely 4-angled, ± densely leafy and again branched giving the plant a bushy habit, the branchlets opposite. Stems up to 8 mm thick at the base, with few to many main branches from near the base; branches erect or spreading, terete or obtusely 4-angled, ± densely leafy and again branched giving the plant a bushy habit, the branchlets opposite

Morphology Leaves

Leaves subsessile to shortly petiolate; lamina 1–5 × 1–3 cm, deeply pinnatipartite to pinnatilobed with segments or lobes usually as wide as the rhachis, sometimes broader; leaf segments 5–7, ± spaced on the rhachis, 3.5–20 × 1–2 mm, narrow-oblong to linear or sometimes oblong-triangular, obtuse or subacute, entire, hispidulous on both surfaces, chartaceous and bright green, usually turning olive-green or brownish on drying. Leaves subsessile to shortly petiolate; lamina 1–5 × 1–3 cm, deeply pinnatipartite to pinnatilobed with segments or lobes usually as wide as the rhachis, sometimes broader; leaf segments 5–7, ± spaced on the rhachis, 3.5–20 × 1–2 mm, narrow-oblong to linear or sometimes oblong-triangular, obtuse or subacute, entire, hispidulous on both surfaces, chartaceous and bright green, usually turning olive-green or brownish on drying

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences of 1–many-flowered spikes 1–6.5 cm long or of many-flowered racemes up to 15 cm long, terminal on branches and branchlets, the short inflorescences being overtopped by lateral branchlets also bearing terminal inflorescences; bracts 4–5 mm long, linear-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, membranous-margined; bracteoles c. 1 mm long, subulate, puberulent. Inflorescences of 1–many-flowered spikes 1–6.5 cm long or of many-flowered racemes up to 15 cm long, terminal on branches and branchlets, the short inflorescences being overtopped by lateral branchlets also bearing terminal inflorescences; bracts 4–5 mm long, linear-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, membranous-margined; bracteoles c. 1 mm long, subulate, puberulent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary c. 1.4 × 0.7 mm; style c. 16 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Schizocarp (5)6.5–7.5 long, somewhat broader and thicker at the base, ± rounded at the apex, prominently reticulate-alveolate, shining; pit (2)3–4.5 mm long, ± half as long as the schizocarp length, with an irregularly dentate margin; the 2 mericarps not separating when ripe. Schizocarp (5)6.5–7.5 long, somewhat broader and thicker at the base, ± rounded at the apex, prominently reticulate-alveolate, shining; pit (2)3–4.5 mm long, ± half as long as the schizocarp length, with an irregularly dentate margin; the 2 mericarps not separating when ripe.