Pachycarpus petherickianus (Oliv.) Goyder

Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb with annual stems arising from a tuberous rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems erect, (15–)30–60 cm tall, densely pubescent with spreading white hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with petiole 2–6 mm long, pubescent; lamina linear-lanceolate to ovate, rarely broadly ovate, (3–)5–8 × (0.5–)1–4 cm, apex acute to obtuse, base rounded or truncate, usually slightly cordate, margins scabrid, venation prominent with numerous parallel secondary veins, indumentum of spreading white hairs on both upper and lower surfaces

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal and extra-axillary with 5–10(–25) flowers in a secund umbel, ascending or erect, subsessile or with peduncles to ± 4 cm long, densely spreading-pubescent or lanate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts filiform, 4–6 mm long, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes narrowly lanceolate to ovate, 3–8 × 1–2 mm, acute, densely pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellowish green or white, occasionally flushed pink, campanulate, pubescent on outer face at least above, glabrous within; lobes ovate or oblong, 5–8 × 2–4.5 mm, apex subacute or acute, recurved

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona lobes arising from the base of the staminal column, ascending or erect, green or white, purple in Ethiopian material, slightly fleshy, oblong, 4–5 × 2–3 mm, dorsiventrally flattened or somewhat convex, ± 1.5 times height of gynostegium, apex 3–toothed, the middle tooth sometimes suppressed, margins inflexed for ± 2/3 of their length to form a pair of fleshy plates

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anther wings narrowly triangular, 2 × 0.5 mm; anther appendages ovate, ± 1 × 0.5 mm, acute, erect; corpusculum brown, ovoid, 0.3–0.6 × 0.1–0.2 mm; translator arms 0.2–0.4 × 0.1 mm, flattened.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollinia

Pollinia elliptic, 0.5 × 0.2–0.3 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Stylar head flat, 2–3 mm diameter, forming a raised pentagonal cushion 1–2 mm above top of anthers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Fruiting pedicel contorted to hold follicle erect. Pedicels 0.5–0.8(–1.6) cm long, densely pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicle narrowly ovoid, ± 5 × 1.5 cm, with 4 weakly toothed longitudinal wings, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ovate, ± 7 × 5.5 mm, with a verrucose disc and a weakly convoluted rim

Figures

Fig 108/11–15, p 447

Ecology

Grassland, sometimes in bushland or riparian woodland; 1000–2000 m

Distribution

Range: Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo-Kinshasa, Burundi, South Sudan and Ethiopia Flora districts: U1 U2 U3 U4 K2 K5 T1