Agelanthus gracilis (Toelken & Wiens) Polhill & Wiens

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

Type

Type from South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 4.5–5 cm long, white, yellow or red, with an orange or yellow band below tip, glabrous, apiculate in bud, scarcely swollen at base; lobes erect, 13–16 mm long, upper three-quarters narrowly linear-oblanceolate Corolla 4.5–5 cm long, white, yellow or red, with an orange or yellow band below tip, glabrous, apiculate in bud, scarcely swollen at base; lobes erect, 13–16 mm long, upper three-quarters narrowly linear-oblanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen filaments slender, incurved; anthers 4–5 mm long Stamen filaments slender, incurved; anthers 4–5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style filiform; stigma 0.6–0.8 mm across, capitate

Note

The flowers vary somewhat in colour and banding, the redder forms more characteristic of localities further south.

Distribution

Also in eastern South Africa to the southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and in Swaziland. Found on Celastraceae on dune formations; in South Africa recorded on a wide variety of hosts, but very commonly found epiparasitic on Viscum if examined carefully. MOZ M Mozambique

Morphology General Habit

Shrub generally less than 1 m high, flowering on short shoots; branchlets slightly compressed at first, puberulous, glabrescent and soon greyish-brown corky. Shrub generally less than 1 m high, flowering on short shoots; branchlets slightly compressed at first, puberulous, glabrescent and soon greyish-brown corky

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or alternate on long shoots, crowded and smaller at base of short shoots, then alternate, then opposite at tip; petiole 1–6 mm long; lamina dark green, thinly coriaceous, 8–45 × 3–15 mm, lanceolate to ovate-elliptic or oblanceolate, pointed to rounded at apex, cuneate at base, glabrous to minutely puberulous, with 2–6 pairs of lateral nerves, the lower ones ± strongly ascending. Leaves opposite or alternate on long shoots, crowded and smaller at base of short shoots, then alternate, then opposite at tip; petiole 1–6 mm long; lamina dark green, thinly coriaceous, 8–45 × 3–15 mm, lanceolate to ovate-elliptic or oblanceolate, pointed to rounded at apex, cuneate at base, glabrous to minutely puberulous, with 2–6 pairs of lateral nerves, the lower ones ± strongly ascending

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 2–6 at ends of short lateral shoots, occasionally also in shortly pedunculate axillary umbels; pedicels 5–10(12) mm long; bract limb 1.5–2 mm long, ovate-triangular. Flowers 2–6 at ends of short lateral shoots, occasionally also in shortly pedunculate axillary umbels; pedicels 5–10(12) mm long; bract limb 1.5–2 mm long, ovate-triangular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle 1.5–2 mm long, glabrous. Receptacle 1.5–2 mm long, glabrous; calyx 0.5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 0.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style filiform; stigma 0.6–0.8 mm across, capitate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Berry whitish turning red, 8–9 × 7–8 mm, obovoid-globose, verruculose; seed blue-green with pink top. Berry whitish turning red, 8–9 × 7–8 mm, obovoid-globose, verruculose; seed blue-green with pink top.