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Myrothamnus flabellifolius

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Name

Identification
Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw. [family MYROTHAMNACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Bywater,M.,
Related name
  • Myrothamnus flabellifolius
  • Myrothamnus flabellifolia

Flora

Entry for Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw. [family MYROTHAMNACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 4, Part 0, page 68, (1978) Author: E. J. Mendes
Names
Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw. [family MYROTHAMNACEAE], in Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. 3: 155 (Feb. 1859); in Ann. Cons. Ultramar., Parte Nao Off., Sér. 1, 1858: 547 & 578, Nota 8 (Nov. vel Dec. 1859); in Trans. Linn. Soc., Bot. 27: 23, t. 8 (1869) (“flabellifolia”).—O1iv. in F.T.A. 2: 404 (1871) (“flabellifolia”).—Bak. in Trans. Linn. Soc., Bot. Sér. 2, 4: 13 (1894) (“flabellifolia”).—Engl., Pflanzenw. Afr. 1: 407, fig. 3486 (1910); op. cit. 3,1: 289, fig. 1876 (1915) (“(Sond.) Welw.”).—Marloth, Fl. S. Afr. 2: 32, fig. 18 & 19, t. 11 A (1925).—Niedenzu & Engl. in Engl. &Prantl, Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 18a: 264, fig. 152 C-D & 1536 (1930).—Burtt Davy, F.P.F.T.: 430 (1932) (“(Sond.) Welw.”). —Brenan, T.T.C.L.: 368 (1949); in Mem. N.Y. Bot. Gard. 8: 436 (1954).— Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees & Shrubs: 329 (1961).—F. White, F.F.N.R.: 67 (1962) (“(Sond.) Welw.”).—Friedrich-Holzhammer in Prodr. Fl. SW. Afr. 51: 1 (1966).—Mendes in C.F.A. 4: 30 (1970).—Lisowski, Malaisse & Symoens in Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 40: 255, fig. 1–2 (1970); in F.C.B., Myrothamnaceae: 2, t. 1 (1970). TAB. 20. Type from Angola.
Cliffortia flabellifolia Sond. [family MYROTHAMNACEAE], in Harv. & Sond., F.C. 2: 597 (1862). Type as above ?
Myrothamnus flabellifolius subsp. elongatus H. Weim. [family MYROTHAMNACEAE], in Bot. Not. 1936 (& in Medd. Lunds Bot. Mus. 26): 454, fig 1 sinister, 2 & 4 (distribution map) (1936) (“elongata”). Type Belingwe Distr., near Mnene, female fl. ii.1931, Norlidh & Weimark 5154 (LD)
Myrothamnus flabellifolius subsp. robustus H. Weim. [family MYROTHAMNACEAE], tom. cit.: 459, fig. 3 & 4 (distribution map) (1936) (“robusta”). Type: Zambia, near Serenje, female fl. vii.1930, Pole Evans 2880 (K).
Information
A prostrate, ascending or erect shrub, much branched, usually 30–90 cm. tall (stated to grow up to 2m.); young branches tetragonous, the angles narrowly winged; branches soon becoming woody and subspinulose with the persistent stipules and petioles; older branches with bark fissuring longitudinally. Leaves decussately disposed along fast-growing long branches or ± congested on lateral short branches. Leaf-laminae (8)10–14(20) x (3)6–8(15) mm., d: rhombic, the apex (3)5–7(ll)-crenate-dentate, the base entire and cuneate, digitately nerved (nerves sometimes 2-furcate near the apex), closely longitudinally pleated when dry, articulated with the petiole; petiole (1)2–3(5) mm. long, subvaginate; stipules subulate, connate with the petiole at the base and exceeding it by 1–3 mm. Inflorescences usually 2–3 cm. long, rarely up to 5 cm., terminal on the lateral short branches; each flower sessile in the axil of a single, elliptic to ovate, usually obtuse bract 1·2–1·8 x c. 1·0 mm.; bracts persistent after flower- and fruit-fall; female inflorescences stouter than the male · male flowers reduced to (3)5–6(?8) stamens; filaments filiform and connate at the base into a central column; anthers oblong, reddish, after dehiscence presenting an asymmetric X-shaped cross-section; connective prolonged into a short, ± curved beak. female flowers zygomorphic, reduced to (2)3 green carpels connate only at the base and tapering into ± short, outwardly curved styles presenting purple, oblong, inwardly facing stigmas. Capsule coriaceous with carpels somewhat enlarged, deeply (2-)3-lobed, crowned by the persistent styles and stigmas. Seeds c. 0·5 mm. long., ovoid to tetragonal.
Habitat
Usually forming large stands on sunny rocky hills or along cracks and crevices in rocks
Altitude range
500–1900 m.
1900
500
Distribution
Zambia N c. 48 km. S. of Mpika, Nachkutu Cave, fl. 26.x.1967, Simon & Williamson 1219 (K; LISC; SRGH).Mozambique M Namaacha, fr. 9.i.1947, Barbosa 95A(LMA; SRGH).Mozambique MS Manica Distr., Barue, between Vila Gouveia and Mungari, fl. 18.ix.1942, Mendonça 322 (COI; LISC; M).Mozambique T Cabora-Bassa, Songo Plateau, fr. 2U.1973, Torre, Carvalho & Ladeira 18818 (COI; FHO; LISC; LMU; MO).Mozambique Z He Mts., fl. 22.vi.1943, Torre 5563 (COI; LISC; LMU).Malawi S Zomba Plateau, fr. 31.v.1946, Brass 16132 (K; PRE; SRGH).Malawi C Dedza Distr., Chiwao Hill near Chongoni Forest School, fl. 14.iii.1963, Salubeni 6 (K; SRGH).Zimbabwe S Gwanda, near tributary of Mtshibizini R., 35 km. from Koodoovale Motel to Tuli Breeding Station, fr. 19.iii.1959, Drummond 5860 (K; LISC; PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe E Inyanga Distr., N. of Mt. Dombo, fl. 25.xi.1965, Simon 516 (K; LISC; PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe C Gwelo, fl. 5.xi. 1967, Biegel 1891 (K; LISC; PRE; SRGH).Zimbabwe W Victoria Falls, fl. xii.1905, Allen 92 (K; SRGH).Zambia E Chipiri Hills near Chadiza, fl. 29.xi.1958, Robson 785 (BM; K; LISC; PRE; SRGH).Zambia C near Sérenje, fr. 15.vii.1930, Pole Evans 2880 (K; PRE; SRGH).Mozambique N Amaramba, Mitucué Mts., 20km. from Cuamba.fr. 15.ii.1964, Torre & Paiva 10602 (COI; EA; K; LISC; LMU; MO; SRGH).Malawi N Mzimba Distr., N. end of Vipya Plateau, fr. 1.v.1966, Whellan 2260 (K; SRGH).Zimbabwe N Mrewa, st. 28.i.1941, Hopkins in GHS 7897 (SRGH).Botswana SE Lobatsi, fl. 29.x.1955, McConnell in SRGH 68917 (K; SRGH).
Distribution (external)
Kenya
Tanzania
Zaire (Haut-Katanga)
Angola
SW. Africa
Lesotho
S. Africa (Transvaal and Cape Prov.)
Notes
“Resurrection Plant.” Note: M. flabellifolius is phenotypically a rather variable species, reflecting in its habit and in the average size of leaves, internodes and inflorescences the local edaphic and climatic conditions of the year during which the gathering was obtained.

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