Amaranthaceae
Pandiaka

Pandiaka involucrata (Moq.) B.D.Jacks.

First published in Index Kew. 2: 409 (1894)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical Africa. It is an annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Amaranthaceae, C. C. Townsend. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit
Annual herb, simple in very reduced plants, occasionally branched from the base with decumbent branches, but usually erect with many long, slender, erect branches, (0.25) 0.45–1.2 (2) m. tall; stems frequently red, terete below, more or less quadrangular above striate, clad (as are the branches) with an indumentum of more or less dense, upwardly directed to subpatent whitish hairs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves lanceolate-oblong to oblong-elliptic, those of the main stems 2–10 × 0.9–3 cm., more or less abruptly contracted at the base (superior leaves sessile, the lower usually very shortly petiolate), obtuse-apiculate to subacute at the apex, thinly to moderately furnished with upwardly-directed or subpatent hairs, the upper surface usually darker.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences subglobose to cylindrical, (1) 1.5–3.5 (5) × (1.25) 1.5–1.75 cm., the flowers very dense and concealing the white-pilose axis, sessile above 2–4 lanceolate to ovate, short leaves; commonly in groups of 3 (a terminal with two laterals on widely spreading branches).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts ovate-acuminate, c. 5–8 mm. long, membranous with a narrow or wider greenish central band, very shortly pilose along the midrib only to more generally long-pilose, the midrib excurrent in a distinct, sharp arista.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracteoles lanceolate-ovate, 6–9 mm. long, densely long-pilose at least along the midrib dorsally, the midrib excurrent in a sharp mucro, the apex of one bracteole (and not rarely the entire flower) more or less curved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals narrowly lanceolate, the outer 2 densely appressed-pilose, narrowly pale- margined with a firm green centre, 6–8.25 mm.; inner 2 c. 0.5–1 mm. shorter, less pilose, 3 nerves sometimes visible in transmitted light only; middle tepal intermediate; all with a rigid, spine-like apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2.5–5 mm. long, the filaments floccose-hairy near the base; pseudostaminodes flabellate, 0.75–1 mm. long, the margins more or less floccose, dorsal scale absent in all material examined.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary quadrate-obpyriform, slightly compressed, with a faint apical keel; style slender, (1) 2.5–3.25 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule turbinate (“drum-shaped”), c. 2.5 mm. long, with a broad, flat, firm apex; seeds oblong-ovoid, 2–2.25 mm. long, brown, shining, faintly reticulate.
[FZ]

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]

Amaranthaceae, C.C. Townsend. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1985

Morphology General Habit
Annual herb, simple in very reduced plants, occasionally branched from the base with decumbent branches, but usually erect with many long, slender, erect branches, (0.25–)0.45–1.2(–2) m. tall; stems frequently red, terete below, ± quadrangular above, striate, clad (as are the branches) with an indumentum of ± dense, upwardly directed to subpatent whitish hairs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves lanceolate-oblong to oblong-elliptic, those of the main stems 2–10 × 0 .9–3 cm., ± abruptly contracted at the base (upper leaves sessile, the lower usually very shortly petiolate), obtuse-apiculate to subacute at the apex, thinly to moderately furnished with upwardly-directed or subpatent hairs, the upper surface usually darker.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences subglobose to cylindrical, (1–)1.5–3.5(–5) × (1.25–)1.5–1.75 cm., the flowers very dense and concealing the white-pilose axis, sessile above 2–4 lanceolate to ovate, short leaves; commonly in groups of 3, a terminal with two laterals on widely spreading branches.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts ovate-acuminate, ± 5–8 mm., membranous with a narrow or wider greenish central band, very shortly pilose along the midrib only to more generally long-pilose, the midrib excurrent in a distinct, sharp arista.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracteoles lanceolate-ovate, 6–9 mm., densely long-pilose at least along the midrib dorsally, the midrib excurrent in a sharp mucro, the tip of one bracteole (and not rarely the entire flower) ± curved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals narrowly lanceolate, the outer 2 densely appressed-pilose, narrowly pale-margined with a firm green centre, 6–8.25 mm.; inner 2 ± 0.5–1 mm. shorter, less pilose, 3 nerves sometimes visible in transmitted light only; middle tepal intermediate; all with a rigid, spine-like tip.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2.5–5 mm., the filaments floccose-hairy near the base; pseudostaminodes flabellate, 0.75–1 mm., the margins ± floccose, dorsal scale absent in all material examined.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary quadrate-obpyriform, slightly compressed, with a faint apical keel.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style slender, (1–)2.5–3.25 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule turbinate (“drum-shaped”), ± 2.5 mm., with a broad, flat, firm apex; seeds oblong-ovoid, 2–2.25 mm., brown, shining, faintly reticulate.
Habitat
Roadside in rocky ground and gritty soil; 900 m.
Distribution
T4 widespread in W. Africa eastwards to Kordofan, apparently absent from Zaire, southwards to the Victoria Falls region and central Malawi
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

  • Flora Zambesiaca

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

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • 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