Oxygonum maculatum R.A.Graham

Polygonaceae, R. A. Graham. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1958

Habit

Probably perennial herb, much branched, generally whitish-green due to an abundance of white hairs.

Stem

Stem? decumbent, or creeping with erect annual branches, 30–45 cm. tall or more, woody and glabrous below, covered with spreading or reflexed white hairs above, apparently sometimes glabrous down one side.

Ocrea

Ocreae 6 mm. long, pilose, the leaf inserted at the middle or rather below, fringed with brown setae of similar length.

Leaves

Leaves shortly petiolate, lanceolate, 2–4 × 0.2–1 cm., the margin crisped and uneven, usually red, apically acute, long decurrent at the base, thickly pilose on both faces or glabrescent above, centrally marked on the upper surface with a lanceolate, purple or red blotch.

Inflorescences

Inflorescence elongated, erect or slightly arcuate, up to 20 cm. long (or more?).

Bracts

Bracts 4–5 mm. long, fringed with short setae.

Pedicel

Pedicels erect, 3–3.5 mm. long, filiform, glabrous or thinly pilose.

Flowers

Flowers 2–3 together, pale pink, clearly heterostylous. Tepals punctate, 4 mm. long, linear-lanceolate; styles 3 mm. long, connate for 1 mm. (long styles only seen).

Fruits

Fruit fusiform, 6–6.25 mm. long, green, pilose, with three slightly reflexing or spreading prickles 1 mm. long, rising from the centre or a little below.

Figures

Fig. 6/1, p. 35.

Habitat

Upland grassland; the plant is said to grow in masses and to flower profusely; 1710 m.

Distribution

K4 not elsewhere recorded