Vernonia isoetifolia Wild

Compositae, G. V. Pope. Flora Zambesiaca 6:1. 1992

Morphology General Habit

An erect perennial herb up to c. 20 cm. tall, from a stout vertical rootstock with fibrous lateral roots.

Morphology Stem

Stems purple, at least below, solitary, unbranched, with radical leaves exceeding the stems in length, pilose with white muldseptate hairs, or glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves both basal and cauline; basal leaves up to 23 x 0.8 cm., linear-oblanceolate, subacute or obtuse at the apex, cuneate-attenuate towards the base there widening briefly and stem-clasping, margins entire or obscurely remotely serrulate, lamina glabrous; cauline leaves sessile, narrowly strap-shaped to linear-lanceolate, those subtending the capitula stalks conduplicate and usually overtopping the capitula.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula up to c. 10, ± cymose at the stem apex, less often solitary, stalks 1–6.5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Involucre

Involucre up to c. 14 mm. long, broadly obconic to hemispheric.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Phyllaries

Phyllaries numerous, ± narrowly lanceolate and attenuate apically, sparsely pilose-ciliate at the apex otherwise glabrous, increasing in length towards the inside; the inner phyllaries up to c. 12 mm. long and purple at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle alveolate, alveolae walls toothed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla purple, c. 10 mm. long, funnel-shaped with lobes c. 2 mm. long and sparsely bristled at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes (immature) c. 2 mm. long, 4–5-ribbed, rugose between the ribs, densely strigose at the base and often along the ribs; outer pappus of brownish overlapping lanceolate scales 1.5–2 mm. long, inner pappus of purple barbellate setae c. 7 mm. long.