Persicaria hystricula (J.Schust.) Soják

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

Type

Type from Namibia.

Stem

Stem reddish-brown, prostate or ascending, glabrous Stem reddish-brown, prostate or ascending, glabrous.

Leaves

Leaf lamina 2–6 × 0.4–1.3 cm, lanceolate to elliptic, acute at the apex, basally attenuate into the petiole, with appressed hairs when young, the oldest leaves glabrescent and with bristles on the midrib of the undersurface and margins Leaf lamina 2–6 × 0.4–1.3 cm, lanceolate to elliptic, acute at the apex, basally attenuate into the petiole, with appressed hairs when young, the oldest leaves glabrescent and with bristles on the midrib of the undersurface and margins.

Ocrea

Ocrea reddish, up to 2 cm long, membranous, with appressed strigose hairs, truncate, generally with some cilia Ocrea reddish, up to 2 cm long, membranous, with appressed strigose hairs, truncate, generally with some cilia.

Flowers

Flowers pedicellate in fascicles of 2–3; fascicles surrounded by bracts and borne in ± dense pedunculate spiciform racemes 2–4 cm long; peduncles 1.5–2 cm long, stout, in pairs from uppermost ocrea, with stalked reddish glands; bracts reddish, with obtuse to rounded apex, glabrous outside, margins glabrous Flowers pedicellate in fascicles of 2–3; fascicles surrounded by bracts and borne in ± dense pedunculate spiciform racemes 2–4 cm long; peduncles 1.5–2 cm long, stout, in pairs from uppermost ocrea, with stalked reddish glands; bracts reddish, with obtuse to rounded apex, glabrous outside, margins glabrous.

Perianth

Perianth pink in bud, white when open turning rust-brown, 3–4 mm long, 5-lobed; lobes 2–3 mm long, oblong-elliptic. Stamens 6–9; filaments 2–2.5 mm long; anthers pink turning white, 0.5 mm long, oblong-ellipsoid Perianth pink in bud, white when open turning rust-brown, 3–4 mm long, 5-lobed; lobes 2–3 mm long, oblong-elliptic.

Ovary

Ovary 1.5–2 mm in diameter, globose, ± compressed; styles 2, united at or shortly below the middle

Ecology

Growing at edge of dam in short grasses where water had receded; up to 1360 m.

Distribution

Also in Angola and Namibia. Zimbabwe ZAM N, ZIM W, ZIM C Zambia

Habit

Perennial straggling or erect herb. Perennial straggling or erect herb

Stamens

Stamens 6–9; filaments 2–2.5 mm long; anthers pink turning white, 0.5 mm long, oblong-ellipsoid.

Pistil

Ovary 1.5–2 mm in diameter, globose, ± compressed; styles 2, united at or shortly below the middle.

Fruits

Nut dark brown to shiny black, 2–2.5 mm in diameter, biconvex-lenticular, slightly rugose. Nut dark brown to shiny black, 2–2.5 mm in diameter, biconvex-lenticular, slightly rugose.