Cussonia arenicola Strey

Araliaceae, J. F. M. Cannon. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs of 1–2 m. tall with a single trunk rising from tubers spaced at intervals along a root or rhizome.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves digitately compound, glabrous, generally similar to those of C. spicata.

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petiole up to 25 cm. long, glabrous.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 4–7(12), 6–18 cm. long, slightly coriaceous, broadly elliptic to oblanceolate; apex acute to rounded and sometimes emarginate; decurrent deltate wings present as in C. spicata.

Morphology Leaves Leaf lamina Leaf margin

Margins entire to undulate to slightly and irregularly serrate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a group of (5)8–15(23) dense spike-like racemes, with peduncles 3–18 cm. long and with basal bracts up to 1 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers with pedicels 0–2(4) mm. long, floral bracts c. 2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx forming a fairly prominent cup.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stylopodium

Stylopodium depressed-conical compared to that of C. zuluensis (8) and less conspicuous in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit broadly ovoid, 4 × 4 mm., glabrous; axis and pedicels elongating little, if at all, at maturity.