Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R.Br.

Goyder, D. J., Gilbert, M. G. & Venter, H. J. T. (2020). Apocynaceae (part 2). In: M. A. García (ed.), Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 7(3). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Type

Yemen, Djöbla, Forsskåls.n. (C holotype).

Morphology General Habit

Erect, multistemmed shrub to 2.5 m tall; stems branching mainly near the base and arising from a sandy coloured non-tuberous rootstock

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 6–15(20) × 0.3–1.5(2.5) cm, linear- lanceolate, tapering gradually into the attenuate apex and the channeled petiole, margins smooth, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences extra-axillary; peduncles 1.5–9 cm long; rachis up to 1.5(3) cm long; bracts deciduous, basal bract in each inflorescence to c.15(25) × 2(4) mm, lanceolate, acute, other bracts smaller and more filiform; flowers spreading or erect on slender pedicels 1–2.5(3) cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 3–10 × 1–3 mm, ovate to narrowly lanceolate, acute

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla ± rotate to campanulate, divided ± to the base or occasionally lobes united for about half their length, cream or white, sometimes tinged with green; lobes 7–10(13) × 2.5–5 mm, ovate to elliptic, subacute, glabrous on outer face, inner face minutely pubescent with a shaggy indumentum of white hairs towards the apex and margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynostegium

Gynostegium with stipe 1–2.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona lobes white, arising near the base of the anther wings and reaching the top of the column or to about halfway, 2–4 × 1–2 mm, subglobose or somewhat compressed laterally, truncate and with a deep or shallow groove distally, the margins sometimes produced into a pair of teeth arching towards or over the head of the staminal column

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther wings 2–3 mm long, vertical, frequently somewhat flared at base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollinarium

Pollinaria with corpusculum 0.4–0.5 × 0.2 mm, ovoid, dark brown; translator arms 0.2–0.3 mm long, slender, straight or slightly articulated; pollinia 0.8–1.5 × 0.2–0.4 mm, ovoid-subcylindrical or linear-oblanceolate in outline and slightly flattened in section

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Stylar head flat, level with the top of the anthers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Follicles single or paired, inflated or not, (3)3.5–6 × (0.5)1–2 cm, ovoid with a rounded apex to subcylindrical with a slender beak; fruiting pedicel not contorted; seeds generally inflated, not differentiated into disc and rim, 3–4 × 1–2 mm, ovoid, tapered towards the coma, smooth; coma 6–10 mm long.

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique. Widely distributed in tropical Africa from Limpopo Province of South Africa northwards to Ivory Coast in the west and Somalia in the east, also known from Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Ecology

Growing in sand or among rocks in seasonally inundated watercourses; 100–1000 m.

Asclepiadaceae, A. A. Bullock. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

A woody herb, stiffly erect, to 6 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Creamy white sweet-scented flowers

Ecology

Along seasonal rivers.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/13581896/13594766

Conservation

LC - least concern

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