Caryophyllaceae
Polycarpaea

Polycarpaea guardafuiensis M.G.Gilbert

First published in Nordic J. Bot. 11: 453 (1991)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is NE. Somalia. It is a perennial or 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, “Cape Guardafui”, Thulin & Warfa 5899 (UPS holo., K iso.).
Morphology General Habit
Minute tussock-forming woody perennial, to 3 cm wide, wider than high; glabrous except for pilose axils
Morphology Stem
Stems of 2 kinds, short, thick main stems covered with persistent leaf-bases and short, presumably relatively ephemeral flowering branches with distinct internodes and paired leaves
Morphology Leaves
Most leaves in dense basal rosettes; stipules lanceolate, c. 2.3 mm long, c. 2/3rd concealed by swollen leaf-base which becomes indurated and brownish; blade ± rhombic-spathulate, up to 12 x 4.5 mm, base attenuate into petiole, tip acuminate, fleshy
Morphology General Shoots
Flowering shoots up to 2 cm long, with leaves almost as short as broad, lacking specialised base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Cymes mostly terminal, sometimes also from uppermost axils, capitate; peduncle up to 6 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts and sepals similar, scarious, dark brown with paler margins, long acuminate, bracts c. 2.3 mm long, sepals up to 4 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals linear-oblanceolate, c. 3 mm long, tip slightly lacerate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 5, just shorter than petals; anthers c. 0.4 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 1.3 mm long plus 0.2 mm stipe, ovules c. 20; style 1.5 mm long, stigma capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 1.7 mm long, seeds not seen.
Distribution
N3 known only from type.
Ecology
Altitude c. 200 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: 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