Caryophyllaceae
Polycarpaea

Polycarpaea pulvinata M.G.Gilbert

First published in Kew Bull. 42: 703 (1987)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Somalia, S. Yemen. It is a subshrub and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome.

Descriptions

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

Type
N3, “Gardo” Airstrip, Gillett 23357 (K holo., EA MOG iso.).
Morphology General Habit
Dwarf shrublet forming hemispherical cushions up to 12 cm across; stems woody, branching ± dichotomously, covered with old leaf-bases
Morphology Leaves
Leaves needle-like with swollen brownish base, 7–10 x c. 0.4 mm, grey-green; stipules linear-lanceolate, 3–4.5 mm long, concealed behind leaf-base for c. 1/3rd of length
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Cymes subterminal; peduncle up to 4 cm long, articulated 1/2–2/3 of the way along, bracts leaf-like Cyme up to 11 mm across, branches ± horizontal with 2 ranks of erect flowers
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts ovate, 1–1.5 x 0.7–1 mm, base cordate, tip obtuse, brown with paler margins
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers sessile; sepals up to 3.5–4 mm long, outermost 2 c. 2/3 as long, similar to bracts
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, oblong-lanceolate, white, c. 2.5 x 0.8 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2.2 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 1.5 mm long, stigma shortly 3-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule longer than sepals, open at tip only
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds c. 0.5 mm long, translucent brown.
Distribution
N1, 3; C1 not known elsewhere.
Ecology
Altitude range 350–1200 m.
[FSOM]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0