Emilia abyssinica (Sch.Bip. ex A.Rich.) C.Jeffrey

Compositae, H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb 10–120 cm tall; stems erect, usually ± pubescent, especially towards the base, sometimes glaucous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile, pale green, sometimes purple underneath or glaucous, spatulate to oblanceolate, 0.8–7.5 cm long, 0.1–4 cm wide, base subtruncate, cuneate or attenuate into a slightly semi-amplexicaul petioloid base, sinuate-dentate to coarsely sinuate-serrate, apex rounded to obtuse, varyingly pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula radiate, 1–12 in lax to dense terminal corymbs; stalks of the individual capitula slender, glabrous; involucre 4–6.5 mm long, 1–2.5(–4?) mm wide, glabrous; phyllaries green, (5–)8(–11), 4–6.5 mm long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Ray florets 4–8, yellow, tube 2–3.5 mm long, glabrous or with a few hairs at the apex, rays 1.5–2.5 mm long, 0.5–1.3 mm wide, 4-veined; disc florets yellow or orange, 3–4 mm long, tube glabrous, lobes 0.2–0.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes 1–2.5 mm long, shortly hairy; pappus 3–4 mm long.

Tadesse, M., & Beentje, H. (2004). A Synopsis and New Species of Emilia (Compositae-Senecioneae) in Northeast Tropical Africa. Kew Bulletin, 59(3), 469-482. doi:10.2307/4110954

Type

Ethiopia, [Tigray], Adoa [=Adwa], Schimper 67 (P, holotype; K, M, UPS isotypes).

Morphology General Habit

Erect annual herb, 5 - 30 cm high

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, lamina of lower ones narrowed below into a petiole- like base, often up to 2 cm long, middle and upper leaves sessile with cordate base, spathulate or spathulate-orbicular, thin, 1 - 5.5 x 0.5 - 2.5(- 3.5) cm, glabrous, rarely ciliate toward the margins, margins denticulate, ciliate, apex obtuse

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula 3 - 12 in open cymes, radiate, oblong campanulate, 5 - 6 x 6 - 8 mm at anthesis

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncle glabrous, bracteate, 1 - 5 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Phyllaries

Phyllaries 8 - 10, glabrous, 5 - 6 x 0.7 - 1.3 mm

Ray

Ray florets 5 - 8, yellow, pistillate, 1.5 - 2.2 x 0.5 - 0.8 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disc florets yellow; corolla 3.8 - 4 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes black, 1.2 - 1.3 x 0.4 - 0.5 mm, setulose, setae white

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Pappus

Pappus 3 - 4 mm long.

Distribution

Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Congo (Kinshasa), Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Ecology

Dry bushland/woodland, degraded woodland or wooded grassland, also as a weed of cultivation; alt. 980 - 1850 m.

Conservation

Least concern (LC).

Note

Emilia abyssinica var. macroglossa C. Jeffrey (1986), which differs by having larger ray florets (2.2 - 2.5 x 1 - 1.3 mm versus 1.5 - 2.2 x 0.5 - 0.8 mm), occurs in Tanzania.

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

Compositae, C. D. Adams. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

An annual herb a few inches to 18 in. high with striate glabrous or sparsely pilose stems

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Yellow ray- disk-florets in narrow heads 1/4 in. long.