Rumex usambarensis (Engl.) Dammer

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

Habit

A shrub, or sometimes a straggling climber A shrub, or sometimes a straggling climber.

Stem

Stems up to 3 m or more tall, glabrous, striate Stems up to 3 m or more tall, glabrous, striate.

Leaves

Leaf lamina 3.5–9 × 1.5–3 cm, narrowly to broadly elliptic, apex acute, with a hastate base, narrowed above the basal lobes, markedly 3-nerved; basal lobes 5 × 2 mm, reflexed; petiole 1–4 cm long Leaf lamina 3.5–9 × 1.5–3 cm, narrowly to broadly elliptic, apex acute, with a hastate base, narrowed above the basal lobes, markedly 3-nerved; basal lobes 5 × 2 mm, reflexed; petiole 1–4 cm long.

Ocrea

Ocrea 1–1.5 cm long, membranous, entire, caducous Ocrea 1–1.5 cm long, membranous, entire, caducous.

Ecology

In moist shady places, in high rainfall grassland, also as roadside weeds and in disturbed ground; 800–1900 m.

Note

Pawek (No. 12968) notes this species planted as a hedge at Ekwendeni in northern Malawi.

Distribution

Also in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Dem. Rep. Congo. ZAM N, MAL N Zambia Malawi

Flowers

Flowers polygamous, bracteate, pedicellate, arranged in whorls of 2–6 flowers; pedicels 2–5 mm long, slender, unequal; whorls borne in leafless terminal, cylindrical or ± pyramidal panicles. Flowers polygamous, bracteate, pedicellate, arranged in whorls of 2–6 flowers; pedicels 2–5 mm long, slender, unequal; whorls borne in leafless terminal, cylindrical or ± pyramidal panicles

Perianth

Outer perianth segments brownish, 1.75–2 mm long, ovate, obtuse at the apex, membranous, deflexed and accrescent in fruit; inner perianth segments red or reddish-brown, pellucid, 5–7 mm in diameter, ± circular and wing-like when mature, rounded at the apex, cordate at the base with a squarish basal sinus, reticulately veined, with a small wart-like deflexed dorsal protuberance near the base. Outer perianth segments brownish, 1.75–2 mm long, ovate, obtuse at the apex, membranous, deflexed and accrescent in fruit; inner perianth segments red or reddish-brown, pellucid, 5–7 mm in diameter, ± circular and wing-like when mature, rounded at the apex, cordate at the base with a squarish basal sinus, reticulately veined, with a small wart-like deflexed dorsal protuberance near the base

Stamens

Stamens 6; filaments as long as the perianth segments, filiform; anthers 1.5 × 0.5 mm, cylindrical. Stamens 6; filaments as long as the perianth segments, filiform; anthers 1.5 × 0.5 mm, cylindrical

Ovary

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

Fruits

Nut brown, shiny, 2–2.5 mm long, trigonous. Nut brown, shiny, 2–2.5 mm long, trigonous.