Oxygonum litorale R.A.Graham

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

Type

Type:Zambia, Chiengi, Lake Mweru, Bullock 1236 (K, holotype).

Filaments

Filaments c. 2 mm long; anthers 0.25–0.35 × 0.20–0.25 mm, ellipsoid

Ovary

Ovary 5–7 mm long, fusiform; styles of long-styled flowers 2.25 mm long, connate for 1 mm; styles of short-styled flowers 1.5 mm long, connate for 0.5–0.75 mm

Fruits

Nut yellowish-red to brown, 8–10 mm long, fusiform, winged, armed on the angles with prickles; 3 prickles on the angles patent to retrorse and up to 4 mm long, 3 smaller prickles a little below these and in the middle of each face 3 very short prickles. Nut yellowish-red to brown, 8–10 mm long, fusiform, winged, armed on the angles with prickles; 3 prickles on the angles patent to retrorse and up to 4 mm long, 3 smaller prickles a little below these and in the middle of each face 3 very short prickles.

Ecology

On sandy banks of rivers, forming long thin lines along a dune contour, and at lakeside; c. 1000 m.

Note

Differences between this species and O. ellipticum R.A. Graham, from SW. Tanzania, seem rather inconsistent and the latter could be considered a synonym of O. littorale.

Distribution

Also in Tanzania. ZAM N Zambia

Habit

A semi-procumbent perennial herb. A semi-procumbent perennial herb

Stem

Stems red-brown, up to 30–50 cm tall, branched, longitudinally striate, glabrous. Stems red-brown, up to 30–50 cm tall, branched, longitudinally striate, glabrous

Leaves

Leaves slightly fleshy, ± discolorous, dark green above, paler beneath, 2.5–6 × 0.4–1.5 cm, elliptic-lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, apex acute, mucronate, base attenuate into a petiole-like base, margins lobed, midrib prominent beneath, lamina glabrous with pellucid glands. Leaves slightly fleshy, ± discolorous, dark green above, paler beneath, 2.5–6 × 0.4–1.5 cm, elliptic.lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, apex acute, mucronate, base attenuate into a petiole-like base, margins lobed, midrib prominent beneath, lamina glabrous with pellucid glands

Ocrea

Ocrea 7–10 mm long, truncate and fringed at the apex with pale brown setae up to 5–8 mm long. Ocrea 7–10 mm long, truncate and fringed at the apex with pale brown setae up to 5–8 mm long

Flowers

Flowers shortly pedicellate, 1–4 in the axils of bracts, arranged in terminal and axillary spiciform racemes 10–20(30) cm long; bracts 3–6 mm long, chartaceous, obliquely truncate and produced dorsally into a subulate seta up to 3 mm long and with an apical fringe of 2–3 further setae; pedicels erect, up to 3.5–7 mm long. Male flowers not seen Flowers shortly pedicellate, 1–4 in the axils of bracts, arranged in terminal and axillary spiciform racemes 10–20(30) cm long; bracts 3–6 mm long, chartaceous, obliquely truncate and produced dorsally into a subulate seta up to 3 mm long and with an apical fringe of 2–3 further setae; pedicels erect, up to 3.5–7 mm long Hermaphrodite flowers 4–5 mm long, heterostylous; perianth white or pink, 4–5-lobed; tube 1.5–2 mm long; lobes 2.5 mm long and ovate-lanceolate Hermaphrodite flowers 4–5 mm long, heterostylous; perianth white or pink, 4–5-lobed; tube 1.5–2 mm long; lobes 2.5 mm long and ovate-lanceolate. Male flowers not seen.

Male

Male flowers not seen.

Hermaphrodite

Hermaphrodite flowers 4–5 mm long, heterostylous; perianth white or pink, 4–5-lobed; tube 1.5–2 mm long; lobes 2.5 mm long and ovate-lanceolate. Ovary 5–7 mm long, fusiform; styles of long-styled flowers 2.25 mm long, connate for 1 mm; styles of short-styled flowers 1.5 mm long, connate for 0.5–0.75 mm. Filaments c. 2 mm long; anthers 0.25–0.35 × 0.20–0.25 mm, ellipsoid.

Stamens

Filaments c. 2 mm long; anthers 0.25–0.35 × 0.20–0.25 mm, ellipsoid.

Pistil

Ovary 5–7 mm long, fusiform; styles of long-styled flowers 2.25 mm long, connate for 1 mm; styles of short-styled flowers 1.5 mm long, connate for 0.5–0.75 mm.