Agelanthus molleri (Engl.) Polhill & Wiens

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Type

Type from Angola.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style often flushed red opposite filaments, with neck 2–2.5 mm long; stigma capitate, 0.5–0.7 mm across

Ecology

Mixed or miombo woodland, extending up to forest edges; 500–1700 m; generally on Combretum or various legumes; flowering during the rains and after, mainly January to May, sporadically later.

Distribution

Botswana Mozambique Malawi Zimbabwe Zambia Also in Angola, southern Dem. Rep. Congo and Tanzania. BOT N, ZAM B, ZAM N, ZAM W, ZIM N, ZIM C, ZIM E, MAL N, MAL C, MAL S, MOZ T

Morphology General Habit

Much branched shrub extending to 1 m, flowering mostly on relatively short lateral shoots; branchlets slightly flattened at first, densely covered with short spreading hairs, longer ones branched, red-brown and shed first. Much branched shrub extending to 1 m, flowering mostly on relatively short lateral shoots; branchlets slightly flattened at first, densely covered with short spreading hairs, longer ones branched, red-brown and shed first

Morphology Leaves

Leaves mostly opposite to subopposite, but those at base of lateral shoots crowded, smaller, shorter stalked, more obovate and with fewer more ascending nerves; petiole 5–15 mm long; lamina thinly coriaceous, dull green to slightly glaucous, 4–13 × 0.5–3 cm, lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-elliptic, narrowed or slightly acuminate to an acute or obtuse apex, cuneate to rounded at base, pubescent to glabrous except near base, with 4–6 pairs of lateral nerves, the lower ones ascending. Leaves mostly opposite to subopposite, but those at base of lateral shoots crowded, smaller, shorter stalked, more obovate and with fewer more ascending nerves; petiole 5–15 mm long; lamina thinly coriaceous, dull green to slightly glaucous, 4–13 × 0.5–3 cm, lanceolate to elliptic.lanceolate or ovate-elliptic, narrowed or slightly acuminate to an acute or obtuse apex, cuneate to rounded at base, pubescent to glabrous except near base, with 4–6 pairs of lateral nerves, the lower ones ascending

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Umbels (1)2–8-flowered; peduncle (0)1.5–3 mm long, densely spreading hairy; pedicels 2–5 mm long, densely hairy; bract limb 1.5–2 mm long, ovate-triangular. Umbels (1)2–8-flowered; peduncle (0)1.5–3 mm long, densely spreading hairy; pedicels 2–5 mm long, densely hairy; bract limb 1.5–2 mm long, ovate-triangular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle 1.5 mm long, hairy to almost glabrous. Receptacle 1.5 mm long, hairy to almost glabrous; calyx 1–1.5 mm long, flared, split by expanding corolla, ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1–1.5 mm long, flared, split by expanding corolla, ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 3.8–4.2 cm long, greenish-white, orange-red around vents with greenish tip flushed dull red outside, usually dull red inside tube along lines of filament attachments, densely covered outside with mostly branched hairs 1–2 mm long; apical swelling of bud slight, 5 × 1.5–2 mm; basal swelling 4–5 × 3–4.5 mm, ellipsoid-globose, narrowed 3–4 mm above; lobes erect, 8–9 mm long, upper slightly expanded part 5–7.5 × 0.6–0.8 mm, linear-oblanceolate, slightly hardened inside especially above. Corolla 3.8–4.2 cm long, greenish-white, orange-red around vents with greenish tip flushed dull red outside, usually dull red inside tube along lines of filament attachments, densely covered outside with mostly branched hairs 1–2 mm long; apical swelling of bud slight, 5 × 1.5–2 mm; basal swelling 4–5 × 3–4.5 mm, ellipsoid-globose, narrowed 3–4 mm above; lobes erect, 8–9 mm long, upper slightly expanded part 5–7.5 × 0.6–0.8 mm, linear-oblanceolate, slightly hardened inside especially above

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen filaments red, upper third paler, thickened and hardened, with a very small tooth; anthers 1.8–2.5 mm long. Stamen filaments red, upper third paler, thickened and hardened, with a very small tooth; anthers 1.8–2.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style often flushed red opposite filaments, with neck 2–2.5 mm long; stigma capitate, 0.5–0.7 mm across.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berry 8 × 4 mm, oblong-obovoid, crowned by persistent calyx, pubescent. Berry 8 × 4 mm, oblong-obovoid, crowned by persistent calyx, pubescent.

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