Celosia pandurata Baker

Amaranthaceae, C. C. Townsend. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Herb, duration and habit not known, 0.6–1 m., sparsely branched above.

Morphology Stem

Stem and branches slender, terete, striate, more or less densely furnished throughout with whitish or yellowish multicellular hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves hastate with a shortly acuminate terminal lobe up to c. 5 × 2 cm. in length and breadth and usually obtuse basal lateral lobes up to c. 3 × 1.2 cm., (in one specimen lamina without lobes and up to c. 5 × 2.5 cm., but this has the appearance of atypical secondary growth), furnished along the veins with multicellular hairs, the lamina decurrent along a slender petiole 1.5–4 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal and axillary, whitish or pale mauve, spiciform-thyrsoid, the axillary pedunculate with peduncles up to 3 cm. long, the terminal solitary or paniculate by reduction of the upper leaves, c. 1.5–10 × 1.2–1.5 cm.; partial inflorescences fasciculiform, approximate or the lower separated.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts and bracteoles deltoid-lanceolate or deltoid-ovate, c. 2.5–3 mm. long, acute, whitish or stramineous, mucronate with the excurrent prominent midrib, the margins dentate-erose to lacerate, sometimes plicate-undulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal

Tepals 3.5–4 mm. long, oblong, acute, glabrous, with a pair of long nerves on either side of the midrib and a further outer pair of shorter nerves (the long nerves occasionally forked), the midrib excurrent in a short mucro, margins minutely lacerate-dentate above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments with the free apices equalling or shorter than the basal cup; no intermediate teeth present.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 14–17-ovulate; stigmas 2, erect or flexuose, c. 0.75 mm. long, shorter than the distinct c. 1.25 mm. long style.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule shortly ovoid or subglobose, c. 2–2.5 mm., not exceeding the perianth.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds rotund-quadrate, strongly compressed, black, shiny, c. 1 mm. wide, densely sulcate-punctate.