Dicliptera paniculata (Forssk.) I.Darbysh.

Flora Zambesiaca Acanthaceae (part 2) by Iain Darbyshire, Kaj Vollesen and Ensermu Kelbessa

Morphology General Habit

Erect to straggling annual herb with a short taproot, stems 60–180(260) cm tall, much-branched, 6-angular with prominent pale ridges, ridges pale-hispid or rarely glabrous, young stems often with short eglandular and capitate glandular hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves often falling before or during flowering/fruiting, ovate or lanceolate, 1.5–10 × 0.8–4.5 cm, base rounded to shortly attenuate, apex acute to acuminate, apiculate, surfaces hispid particularly margin and veins beneath, rarely largely glabrous; lateral veins (3)5–7 pairs; petiole 2–22 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary and terminal, compounded into a very lax 20(40) cm pseudopanicle on largely bare upper branches; peduncles wiry, with short eglandular (often aculeolate) hairs and sparse to dense capitate glandular hairs, sometimes also pilose; main axis bracts linear-lanceolate, 2–4.5(5.5) mm long; cymule peduncles (3.5)8–22(38) mm long, apex often abruptly bent; cymule bracts green, pairs highly unequal, ratio 1.2–2.5 : 1, larger bract subulate or linear-lanceolate, 7–17.5 × 0.7–1.7 mm, apiculate, margin narrowly hyaline towards base, external surface with or (when young) without minute eglandular and glandular hairs, often also with capitate glandular hairs, only midrib prominent, midrib usually aculeolate, margin sparsely ciliate; bracteoles as bracts but 3.5–7 mm long, margin hyaline.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes 2–3.5 mm long, ciliate, with occasional minute glandular hairs externally, margin hyaline.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 9–14 mm long, pink or mauve, rarely white, with purple guidelines, eglandular-pubescent externally; tube 4–6 mm long; lip held in upper position oblong, 4.5–8 × 1.5–3 mm, palate puberulous at mouth; lip held in lower position elliptic, 4.5–7 × 2.5–4 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal filaments 3.5–7 mm long, sparsely hairy; anther thecae 0.5–0.75 mm long, superposed and somewhat oblique.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary largely glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 8–12.5 mm long, eglandular-pubescent, with scattered short-stalked glands; placental base inelastic.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1.8–2.5 mm in diameter, tuberculate particularly towards rim, tubercles short, minutely hooked.

Distribution

Widespread in tropical Africa from Cape Verde and Senegal to Somalia, south to Namibia and South Africa, and likely to occur in the Caprivi Strip; also in Arabia, India and Thailand.

Ecology

Open to dense woodland, thicket and wooded grassland, often in riverine fringes or on lakeshores, frequently on disturbed ground; 250–1100 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Widespread and often common; Least Concern.