Pentatropis nivalis (J.F.Gmel.) D.V.Field & J.R.I.Wood

Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012

Morphology General Habit

Slender herbaceous perennial twining to 5 m, but mostly much less.

Morphology Stem

Stems minutely pubescent, older stems somewhat lenticellate

Morphology Leaves

Leaves slightly succulent, petiole 2–10 mm long, minutely pubescent; lamina narrowly oblong to elliptic or ovate, 1.5–4.5 × 0.5–3 cm, obtuse to subacute with a short apiculus, rounded at the base, glabrous or very sparsely pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences extra-axillary, sessile or very rarely with peduncle to 1 cm long, with 2–3(–8) flowers open at the same time.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 10–15 mm long, very slender, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes ± 1 mm long, triangular, acute, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla broadly conical in bud, fused at the base for ± 1 mm; lobes cream or green, frequently tinged with brown or purple, triangular, 4–6 × 2–3 mm, densely pubescent adaxially at least in lower half, glabrous abaxially.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynostegium

Gynostegium 1.5–2 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona lobes ± as tall as staminal column, fleshy, adnate to back of anthers except for the free tip

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther wings ± 1.5 mm long, the margins strongly curved below, radiating from the column basally and extending beneath the corona lobes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Stylar head not projecting beyond anthers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles narrowly lanceolate in outline, 4.5–6 cm long, strongly beaked, smooth, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ovate, ± 5 × 3 mm, with a pale marginal wing ± 0.5 mm wide; coma ± 1 cm long

Figures

Fig 120, p 495

Ecology

Scrambling over shrubs in dry bushland, frequently in seasonally flooded ground, or in riverine forests or thickets; sea level to 900 m

Note

Madagascan material has been treated as a separate subspecies, subsp. madagascariensis, on the basis of its generally smaller leaves, but some Somali collections blur this distinction.

Distribution

Range: Widely distributed across the southern margins of the Sahara from Senegal to Ethiopia and Eritrea, Somalia, and from the Arabian Peninsula to Afghanistan and NW India, Madagascar Flora districts: U1 K1 K2 K3 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T6 T8

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

Morphology General Habit

Plants twining to c. 2 m

Morphology Leaves

Leaves slightly succulent, petiole 1–3 mm long; blade 10–30 x 2–15(–20) mm, narrowly oblong to elliptic or ovate, obtuse to subacute with a short apiculus, rounded at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences sessile with 2–3 flowers open at the same time; pedicels 5–15 mm, very slender

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla-lobes basally fused, 4–9 x 2–3 mm, triangular, yellow, green or brownish purple, adaxially densely pubescent, at least in lower half

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona-lobes ± as long as the gynostegium, carinate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynostegium

Gynostegium 1.5–2 mm long, sessile

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther wings 1–1.5 mm long, following the basal lateral margin of the anther

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigmatic head not projecting beyond anthers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles 4.5–6 cm long, narrowly lanceolate in outline, strongly beaked.

Distribution

N1–3; C2; S1–3 widely distributed across the southern margins of the Sahara to Senegal, in north-east Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and from the Arabian Peninsula to Pakistan and western India.

Ecology

Altitude range 0–1300 m.