Compilation
Maerua sp.

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Name

Identification
Maerua gillettii R.A.Graham [family CAPPARACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Graham RA, 1958 Maerua sp. a [family CAPPARACEAE ] Verified by Graham RA, 1958
Related name
  • Maerua gillettii
  • Maerua sp. a

Flora

Entry for MAERUA sp. A [family CAPPARACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (1964) Author: J. ELFFERS, R. A. GRAHAM AND G. P. DEWOLF
Names
MAERUA sp. A [family CAPPARACEAE]
Information
Woody climbing shrub, glabrous except for the margin of the sepals. Young twigs pruinose. Leaf-blades deciduous before the time of flowering; leaflets unknown; petioles persistent, reflexing, probably aiding climbing, 5–12 cm. long. Inflorescence a few-flowered corymbose raceme, terminal or on short lateral branches; pedicels 5–6 mm. long. Sepals ± 5 mm. long, 2.5 mm. wide, concave, hooded, with a puberulent margin, otherwise glabrous, reflexing at anthesis; receptacle ±3.5 mm. long, fleshy, green; disk with a free rim 2 mm. long, unevenly laciniate. Petals 1.8–3 mm. long, cream. Stamens 8; filaments up to 11 mm. long, cream. Gynophore 12–13 mm. long, cream. Ovary ellipsoid-spheroid, glabrous. Young fruits subglobose, smooth, glabrous; mature fruits unknown.
Range
DISTR. K1 not known elsewhere
Altitude range
780 m.
Distribution
KENYA Northern Frontier Province Moyale, 15 km. on the Wajir road, 5 Nov. 1952, Gillett 14148! & southern end of Huri Hills, 25 Feb. 1963, Bally 12531 !
Notes
The leaf-blades have not been seen; whether the leaves are 1- or 3-foliolate is uncertain, but they are, however, clearly not simple. The flowers are very similar to those of M. glauca Chiov. and both these species are very similar to M. filiformis Drake of Madagascar. M. filiformis seems generally to have long filiform petioles, but occasionally it also bears leaves with relatively short petioles and broadly elliptic blades. Until more is known about this plant and M. glauca, it is unwise to propose new names in this alliance.

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