Portulaca decorticans M.G.Gilbert

Portulacaceae, Sylvia M. Phillips. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2002

Morphology General Habit

Perennial shrublet to 20 cm high, eventually broader than high; stems much-branched, old stems and main roots with exfoliating papery brown bark, basal stem up to 1 cm or more thick, young shoots minutely but densely papillose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, linear, 16–24 mm long, 2 mm wide, succulent with midrib impressed above, papillose, obtuse to subacute; axillary hairs ± 2 mm long, forming a dense white woolly tuft, tufts conspicuous on the older stems after leaf-fall.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers in clusters of up to 5, encircled by 5–8 involucral leaves enclosing white woolly hairs; open only at midday.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Sepals ovate, 5–6.5 mm long, thin, acute; petals 5, salmon-pink, orange and pink or deep pink, obovate, 8–12 mm long, rounded; stamens 15–30; style bent sideways, stigma 4–5-branched.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 3.5 mm high, dehiscing in the lower third, base shallow, lid a conical dome; seeds 0.6 mm long, dark brown, testa cells with deeply sinuate margins, domed to conical, sometimes with a central tubercle.

Figures

Fig. 2 (p. 20).

Habitat

Rock crevices, and rocky and gravelly slopes in Acacia-Commiphora bushland; 700–1500 m

Distribution

K1

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial shrublet to 20 cm high, eventually broader than high

Morphology Roots

Major roots and base of stem with peeling pale brown bark

Morphology Stem

Stems much branched, usually purplish brown, epidermis of youngest internodes with unicellular papillae, whitish when dried

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, 16–24 x c. 2 mm, base attenuate into obscure petiole c. 1.5 mm long, tips subacute; axils with dense tuft of very fine white hairs up to 2.5 mm long, persisting long after leaf-fall

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence with involucre of 5–8 leaf-like bracts

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals ovate-triangular, 5–6.5 mm long, tip ± acute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5, obovate, tip rounded, 8–12 mm long, pale orange, orange-red, coral or deep pink

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 15–30

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style bent sideways; stigma apparently 5-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule c. 2.5 mm diam.; calyptra 2.5 mm high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 0.6 mm long, dark brown; testa cells with deeply sinuate margins, gently domed to ± conical, sometimes with a central tubercle.

Distribution

S1; N Kenya

Ecology

Altitude c. 300 m.