Antherotoma tenuis (A.Fern. & R.Fern.) Jacq.-Fél.

Melastomataceae, R. and A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb up to 20 cm. high.

Morphology Stem

Stem slender, simple or branched at the base, the branches rather elongate and erect; stems and branches terete, dark reddish, ± appressed-setose, the bristles whitish and bulbous at the base, leafy at the base and below the inflorescence, leafless elsewhere.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina 2–15 x 1·5–9 mm., ovate, rather acute at the apex, entire or slightly crenulate at the margin, attenuated into a petiole 1·5 mm. long or contracted at the base, membranous, discolorous (reddish on the upper face, light-green beneath), 3-nerved, ± densely subappressed-setose, the setae white and long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4-merous, small, shortly (c. 3 mm. long) pedicellate, 1–10 in terminal cymes usually arranged in heads leafy at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts minute, persistent, long-setose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle c. 3 x 2·5 mm., subhemi-spherical, reddish, sparsely setose, the bristles simple, whitish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Intersepalar segments c. 2 mm. long, linear, stellate-setose at the top, the bristles up to 3 mm. long. Sepals c. 3 x 2 mm., persistent or very tardily deciduous, triangular-oblong, ciliate at the margin, stellate-setose at the top, the bristles up to 2·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals up to 7 x 6 mm., broadly obovate, penicillate-setose at the apex, shortly unguiculate, intensely orange (fide collect.) or purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Longer stamens: anthers 2 mm. long, suddenly contracted into a c. 0·5 mm. long beak; pedoconnective 2 mm. long, very arched and produced at the base into a 2·5 x 1 mm., 2–3-fid appendage; filaments 2·5 mm. long. Stamens 8, very unequal. Shorter stamens: anthers 2 mm. long, oblong, obtuse at the top, with a very short pedoconnective produced into a c. 0·25 mm. long appendage.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary sparsely setose at the top; style 5 mm. long, strongly curved towards the apex; stigma papillose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed c. 0·5 mm. in diameter, cochleate, straw-yellow, with minute tubercles disposed in curved, parallel lines.