Agelanthus sansibarensis (Engl.) Polhill & Wiens

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

Type

Type from Tanzania.

Morphology General Habit

Shrub, spreading to 1 m, with well developed haustorial attachment, very rarely with subcortical runners, glabrous; branchlets slightly compressed to soon terete and densely lenticellate Shrub, spreading to 1 m, with well developed haustorial attachment, very rarely with subcortical runners, glabrous; branchlets slightly compressed to soon terete and densely lenticellate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves mostly alternate, sometimes some ± opposite; petiole 3–20 mm long; lamina coriaceous, dull green to yellow-green, often with a red flush, 5–13 × 3–8(11) cm, ovate to ovate-elliptic, subacute to rounded at apex, rounded to cuneate and slightly attenuate at base, several-nerved from near base, other venation rather irregular Leaves mostly alternate, sometimes some ± opposite; petiole 3–20 mm long; lamina coriaceous, dull green to yellow-green, often with a red flush, 5–13 × 3–8(11) cm, ovate to ovate-elliptic, subacute to rounded at apex, rounded to cuneate and slightly attenuate at base, several-nerved from near base, other venation rather irregular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Umbels several, sessile, 2–3-flowered; pedicels not clearly differentiated; bract 2–3 mm long, cupular, oblique, with a slight triangular limb and sometimes slightly lacerate Umbels several, sessile, 2–3-flowered; pedicels not clearly differentiated; bract 2–3 mm long, cupular, oblique, with a slight triangular limb and sometimes slightly lacerate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle 2–3 mm long; calyx 1–4 mm long, cupular, slightly toothed, ciliolate, split longitudinally into several segments as corolla-base expands Receptacle 2–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 3–5 cm long, tube red, sometimes green banded at top, lobes yellow over vents, with dark red to blackish tips; apical part of bud not swollen; basal swelling 4–6 × 3–5 mm, subglobular; lobes erect, 7–11 mm long, slightly hardened in upper half, pointed Corolla 3–5 cm long, tube red, sometimes green banded at top, lobes yellow over vents, with dark red to blackish tips; apical part of bud not swollen; basal swelling 4–6 × 3–5 mm, subglobular; lobes erect, 7–11 mm long, slightly hardened in upper half, pointed. Corolla lobes 7–8 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen filaments inflexed, yellow-green then brownish, last 1 mm hardened, paler, thickened; tooth 0.3–0.5 mm long; anthers 2–3 mm long Stamen filaments inflexed, yellow-green then brownish, last 1 mm hardened, paler, thickened; tooth 0.3–0.5 mm long; anthers 2–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style slender, slightly expanded and red opposite filaments, narrowed to 3 mm neck; stigma 0.5–0.8 mm diameter, capitate

Ecology

Coastal bushland to riverine and montane forests; up to 1050 m.

Note

Subsp. montanus Polhill & Wiens, with larger flowers, extends the range to the central highlands of Kenya.

Distribution

In coastal regions from the Juba R. in southern Somalia south almost to the Limpopo, extending inland to some mountains, including Morrumbala in Mozambique and the East African highlands. MOZ Z, MOZ GI Mozambique

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1–4 mm long, cupular, slightly toothed, ciliolate, split longitudinally into several segments as corolla-base expands. Calyx 1–2 mm long, up to half as long as basal swelling of corolla tube

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style slender, slightly expanded and red opposite filaments, narrowed to 3 mm neck; stigma 0.5–0.8 mm diameter, capitate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berry red, 8–9 × 5–6 mm, obovoid, warty; seed red. Berry red, 8–9 × 5–6 mm, obovoid, warty; seed red.

Loranthaceae, Polhill & D. Wiens. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1999

Morphology General Habit

Shrub, spreading to 1 m., with a well-developed haustorial attachment, very rarely with subcortical runners, glabrous; branchlets slightly compressed to soon terete and densely lenticellate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves mostly alternate, sometimes some ± opposite; petiole 3–20 mm. long; lamina coriaceous, dull green to yellow-green, often with a red flush, ovate to ovate-elliptic, 5–13 cm. long, 3–8(–11) cm. wide, subacute to rounded at the apex, rounded to cuneate and slightly attenuate at the base, several-nerved from near the base, other venation rather irregular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Umbels several, sessile, with 2–3 flowers in sockets; bract cupular, oblique, with a slight triangular limb and sometimes slightly lacerate, 2–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle 2–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx cupular, slightly toothed, 1–4 mm. long, ciliolate, split longitudinally into several segments as the corolla-base expands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 3–5 cm. long, tube red, sometimes green-banded at the top, lobes yellow over vents, with dark red to blackish tips; apical part of bud not swollen; basal swelling subglobular, 4–6 mm. long, 3.5–6 mm. in diameter; lobes erect, slightly hardened in the upper half, pointed, 7–11 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments inflexed, yellow-green then brownish, the last 1 mm. hardened, paler, thickened; tooth 0.3–0.5 mm. long; anthers 2–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style slender, slightly expanded and red opposite the filaments, narrowed to a 3 mm. long neck; stigma capitate, 0.5–0.8 mm. diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berry red, obovoid, 8–9 mm. long, 5–6 mm. in diameter, warty; seed red.

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