Rumex rhodesius Rech.f.

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

Type

Type:Zimbabwe, Harare (Salisbury), Eyles 1654 (BM, holotype; PRE; SRGH).

Habit

An erect or ascending perennial herb up to 1 m or more tall An erect or ascending perennial herb up to 1 m or more tall.

Stem

Stems green to greenish-brown, hollow, longitudinally striate, glabrous, producing leafy axillary shoots which develop secondary inflorescences Stems green to greenish-brown, hollow, longitudinally striate, glabrous, producing leafy axillary shoots which develop secondary inflorescences.

Leaves

Leaves green or greenish-brown; lamina 20–30 × 5–7 cm, narrowly oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse at the apex, cuneate to attenuate at the base, entire or crisped on the margin, glabrous or with scattered papillae beneath; petiole up to 10 cm long, much shorter in upper stem leaves Leaves green or greenish-brown; lamina 20–30 × 5–7 cm, narrowly oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse at the apex, cuneate to attenuate at the base, entire or crisped on the margin, glabrous or with scattered papillae beneath; petiole up to 10 cm long, much shorter in upper stem leaves.

Ocrea

Ocrea hyaline, 1–3 cm long, striate, entire, soon caducous Ocrea hyaline, 1–3 cm long, striate, entire, soon caducous.

Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite, pedicellate, in many-flowered whorls arranged in terminal racemose panicles; pedicels articulated above the middle, up to 8 mm long in fruit Flowers hermaphrodite, pedicellate, in many-flowered whorls arranged in terminal racemose panicles; pedicels articulated above the middle, up to 8 mm long in fruit.

Perianth

Outer perianth segments greenish-brown, 2 mm long, oblong-lanceolate; inner perianth segments reddish-brown, 3–4 × 2–2.5 mm, ± triangular, obtuse or acute at the apex, cuneate to rounded or more rarely subtruncate at the base, ± denticulate on the margin, with short irregular teeth below the middle, with ± well developed dorsal tubercles near the base Outer perianth segments greenish-brown, 2 mm long, oblong-lanceolate; inner perianth segments reddish-brown, 3–4 × 2–2.5 mm, ± triangular, obtuse or acute at the apex, cuneate to rounded or more rarely subtruncate at the base, ± denticulate on the margin, with short irregular teeth below the middle, with ± well developed dorsal tubercles near the base.

Stamens

Stamens 6; filaments filiform; anthers ellipsoid Stamens 6; filaments filiform; anthers ellipsoid.

Ovary

Ovary 1.5 × 1 mm, trigonous Ovary 1.5 × 1 mm, trigonous.

Fruits

Nut pale brown, shiny, 2.5 × 1.5 mm, trigonous. Nut pale brown, shiny, 2.5 × 1.5 mm, trigonous.

Ecology

In open woodland, on river banks and wet places, and at the edge of irrigation furrows; 1480–1650 m.

Distribution

Also in South Africa (North-West Province, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal). ZIM N, ZIM W, ZIM C, ZIM E Zimbabwe