Pogonospermum subsessile (Oliv.) I.Darbysh. & Kiel

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb with several erect or ascending stems from a large woody rootstock; stems to 75 cm long, puberulous to densely pubescent or sericeous-puberulous, often with mixture of short appressed and longer spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves subglabrous to pubescent or sericeous-pubescent, densest along veins; petiole 1–7 mm long; lamina ovate to broadly so or elliptic, largest (3)4–7 × 1.5–3.5 cm; apex subacute to rounded, base truncate to rounded, rarely attenuate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal 3–13 cm long racemoid cymes, usually dense but occasionally interrupted in basal part; peduncle not clearly defined; lowermost bracts foliaceous, differentiated upwards, middle and upper pale or yellowish green to green, with or without indistinct hyaline margins, elliptic or narrowly so, 12–22 × 4–10 mm, puberulous to pubescent or sparsely so, with scattered to dense subsessile pale yellow capitate glands, distinctly ciliate; bracteoles similar or longer and narrower, 12–22(25) mm long, with similar indumentum.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 5-lobed, lobes subequal or 5th lobe about – the other 4, 11–19(21) mm long, with similar indumentum; lobes linear-lanceolate, cuspidate, with strong central and 2 weaker lateral veins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white to yellow or yellowish green, with or without pink lines on lower lip, 15–18 mm long, puberulous; tube 6–7 mm long; upper lip 9–11 mm long, slightly hooded; lower lip 8–11 mm long, obovate, lobes c.2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments 6–9 mm long; anthers glabrous, thecae c.2 mm long, lower with bifurcate appendage 1.5–2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 10–14 mm long, densely and finely sericeous-puberulous, hairs spreading near apex, deflexed near base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds mottled grey and black, 3–3.5 × 4–4.5 mm, whitish sericeous or densely so on edges, sparser on flanks, glabrescent.

Distribution

Also in D.R. Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

Ecology

Grassland, woodland and bushland with short grass cover; 500–1800 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Widespread; not threatened.