Oxygonum carnosum R.A.Graham

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

Type

Type:Zambia, Kawambwa (south of Lake Mweru), Fanshawe 2982 (K, holotype; BR; NDO).

Filaments

Filaments 3–4 mm long, filiform, flattened toward the base; anthers red-brown, 1–1.5 × 0.5 mm, oblong

Ovary

Ovary 2–3 mm long; styles of long-styled flowers 6 mm long; styles of short-styled flowers 3 mm long

Fruits

Nut 3–4 mm long, ellipsoid trigonous, irregularly striate, pubescent. Nut 3–4 mm long, ellipsoid trigonous, irregularly striate, pubescent.

Ecology

In dry dambo margins, in wooded grassland, in grey sandy soil with red grit; c. 1300 m.

Distribution

ZAM N Known only from the Kawambwa District of northern Zambia. Zambia

Habit

A decumbent fleshy suffrutex; rootstock tortuous, woody. A decumbent fleshy suffrutex; rootstock tortuous, woody

Stem

Stems annual, longitudinally striate, ± glabrescent. Stems annual, longitudinally striate, ± glabrescent

Leaves

Leaves yellowish-green, ± fleshy, subsessile, (4)5–8 × 0.7–3.2 cm, elliptic to elliptic-obovate, acute or obtuse and mucronate at the apex, attenuate to the base, with the midrib prominent beneath, not or slightly sinuous on the margin. Leaves yellowish-green, ± fleshy, subsessile, (4)5–8 × 0.7–3.2 cm, elliptic to elliptic.obovate, acute or obtuse and mucronate at the apex, attenuate to the base, with the midrib prominent beneath, not or slightly sinuous on the margin

Ocrea

Ocrea 1.5–1.9 × 0.7–1.3 cm, with a foliaceous spreading or reflexed limb, rounded and fringed at the apex with many red-brown setae up to 3.5 mm long, otherwise ± glabrous. Ocrea 1.5–1.9 × 0.7–1.3 cm, with a foliaceous spreading or reflexed limb, rounded and fringed at the apex with many red-brown setae up to 3.5 mm long, otherwise ± glabrous

Flowers

Flowers pedicellate, 1–3 in the axils of each bract, arranged in lateral spiciform racemes 7–9 cm long; bracts 7–9 mm long, obliquely truncate, produced dorsally into an acute or acuminate setose apex and with a terminal fringe of short hairs, or sometimes with short setae; bracteoles 2, hyaline, c. 4.5 mm long; pedicels 4–6 mm long, filiform, glabrous. Hermaphrodite flowers heterostylous, 5-merous; perianth creamy-white, tube 1.5–2 mm long and pubescent outside, lobes 5–6 × 1.5–2 mm and oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute at the apex Male flowers not seen Flowers pedicellate, 1–3 in the axils of each bract, arranged in lateral spiciform racemes 7–9 cm long; bracts 7–9 mm long, obliquely truncate, produced dorsally into an acute or acuminate setose apex and with a terminal fringe of short hairs, or sometimes with short setae; bracteoles 2, hyaline, c. 4.5 mm long; pedicels 4–6 mm long, filiform, glabrous Hermaphrodite flowers heterostylous, 5-merous; perianth creamy-white, tube 1.5–2 mm long and pubescent outside, lobes 5–6 × 1.5–2 mm and oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute at the apex. Male flowers not seen.

Male

Male flowers not seen.

Hermaphrodite

Hermaphrodite flowers heterostylous, 5-merous; perianth creamy-white, tube 1.5–2 mm long and pubescent outside, lobes 5–6 × 1.5–2 mm and oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or subacute at the apex. Filaments 3–4 mm long, filiform, flattened toward the base; anthers red-brown, 1–1.5 × 0.5 mm, oblong. Ovary 2–3 mm long; styles of long-styled flowers 6 mm long; styles of short-styled flowers 3 mm long.

Stamens

Filaments 3–4 mm long, filiform, flattened toward the base; anthers red-brown, 1–1.5 × 0.5 mm, oblong.

Pistil

Ovary 2–3 mm long; styles of long-styled flowers 6 mm long; styles of short-styled flowers 3 mm long.