Faroa axillaris Baker

Gentianaceae, J. Paiva and I. Nogueira. Flora Zambesiaca 7:4. 1990

Morphology General Habit

Erect annual herb, 6–15 cm. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stem more or less branched from the base, 4-ridged.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 10–40 x 3–10 (12.5) mm., the lower obovate-oblong or oblong-spathulate, obtuse at the apex, attenuate at the base; the upper oblong-lanceolate, dilated, scarious, 5-nerved and connate at the base forming an involucre surrounding the inflorescence, secondary nerves with a coarse reticulation.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flower blue, to whitish, in axillary and terminal many-flowered fascicles; pedicels 0.5–1 mm. long, 4-ridged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube 1–1.5 mm. long, campanulate; lobes 2.3 x 6.8–1.25 mm., obovate-oblong or oblong-subspathulate, obtuse at the apex, with 3-nerves from the base and anastomosing secondary nerves near the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube 1.5–1.8(2) mm. long, papillose, with distinct scarcely elongated epidermis cells; lobes 1–1.5 x 1.1–1.4 mm., broadly ovate, subacute at the apex, externally coarsely papillose, internally smooth.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments 0.8–1 mm. long, filiform; anthers c. 0.5 mm. long, subglobose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 1.7–2 x 1–1.1 mm., obovoid; style 1.3–1.4 mm. long; stigma of 2 filiform recurved lobes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 2.3–2.5 x 1.6–1.8 mm., obovoid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 0.5 mm. in diam., subglobose, minutely scrobiculate.

Gentianaceae, Sileshi Nemomissa. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2002

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb 8–20 cm high.

Morphology Stem

Stem usually branched from the base.

Morphology Leaves

Basal leaves obovate-oblong or oblong-spatulate, 13–32 mm long, 5–14 mm wide, obtuse; the upper oblong-lanceolate, dilated, scarious, acute, connate and inflated at base, forming an involucre, 5-nerved beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, many-flowered fascicles, flowers sessile or very shortly pedicellate; bracts subtending inflorescence 28–32 mm long, 8–6 mm wide, distinctly inflated at the base to hold the flowers, 6–10 mm wide at the point of inflation.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers blue, mauve or white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx almost divided to the base; tube ± 1 mm long; segments obovate-oblong or oblong-spatulate, ± 2.8 mm long, 0.8–1 mm wide at base, obtuse, with 3 distinct nerves.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla with tube funnel-shaped to urceolate, 1.7–2.2 mm long, minutely papillose; lobes ovate, 1–1.2 mm long, 0.6–0.8 mm wide, acute, margins often inrolled, conspicuously papillose on the outer surface.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments ± 0.6–0.8 mm long; anthers 0.2–0.4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary obovoid, 0.8–1.5 mm long, ± 0.5 mm diameter; style ± 1.1 mm long; stigma minutely bilobed; lobes filiform, recurved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule obovoid, 1.8–2.1 mm long, 1–1.3 mm diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ± 0.6 mm in diameter, surface pitted.

Figures

Fig. 9 (p. 33).

Habitat

Woodland; 800–1400 m

Distribution

T4 T7 T8