Dichaetanthera rhodesiensis A.Fern. & R.Fern.

Melastomataceae, R. and A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

A small much-branched tree up to 3 m. tall, with stout trunk and rounded crown.

Morphology Branches

Young branches 4-gonous, densely setose (bristles up to 3·5 mm. long, yellow-rusty, spinulose, dilated at base), the oldest indistinctly 4-gonous, glabrescent, with the bark thick, pale grey, longitudinally fissured and transversely cracked; nodes much thickened on the old branches.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves crowded at the top of the branchlets; lamina up to 15·5 x 11·7 cm., ovate or ovate-elliptic, acute at apex and base, entire, rather thick, discolorous, bright yellow-green above, paler beneath, setose on the upper face (bristles up to 3 mm. long, subulate, appressed) and densely tomentose on the under one, the 5–7 longitudinal nerves impressed above, raised beneath, the transverse ones slightly impressed above, prominent beneath, reticulation inconspicuous; petiole up to 1 cm. long, appressed-setose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicles up to 14 x 13 cm., ± dense, with the axis, branches and pedicels densely appressed-setose; bracts lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, setose outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle ± 7x 6 mm., cylindric-campanulate, densely setose, the bristles up to 2 mm. long, subulate, dilated at the base, spinulose, arched-ascending.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals ± 5 x 5 mm., roundish, dorsally setose, marginally ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals c. 16 x 13 mm., bright pink or mauve, marginally ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Short stamens: anthers c. 10 mm. long; pedoconnective c. 3 mm. long with a c. 3·5 mm. long appendage. Long stamens: anthers c. 11 mm. long; pedoconnective c. 9 mm. long with the two basal appendages c. 4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fructiferous receptacle 7–10 x 7–9 mm., campanulate, with the persistent sepals neither much thickened nor accrescent. Capsule exserted, setose on the upper half.