Compilation
Suaeda merxmuelleri

3 Images see all

Previous
Next

Name

Identification
Isotype of Suaeda merxmuelleri Aellen [family CHENOPODIACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Not on sheet,
Related name
  • Suaeda merxmuelleri

Flora

Entry for Suaeda merxmuelleri Aellen [family CHENOPODIACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 9, Part 1, page 133, (1988) Author: J. P. M. Brenan
Names
Suaeda merxmuelleri Aellen [family CHENOPODIACEAE], in Mitt. Bot. Staatss. München 4: 27 (1961); in Merxm., Prodr. Fl. SW. Afr. 32: 21–22 (1967). TAB. 40. Type from Namibia.
Suaeda fruticosa [family CHENOPODIACEAE], sensu Pole-Evans in Bot. Surv. S. Afr. Mem. 21: 30 (1948).— O.B. Miller in Journ. S. Afr. Bot. 18: 12 (1952).
Information
Low spreading shrub up to about 0.6 m. high and 1 m. across. Leaves (middle and inferior) sessile, oblong to elliptic or obovate-oblong, obtuse at apex, 2–4.5 (12) × 1–1.5 mm., pale green or glaucescent, blackish or brownish when dry. Flowers green, solitary or clustered in upper axils, clusters often aggregated to form narrow spiciforn inflorescences; bracts subtending flowers as long as or up to twice as long as flowers (occasionally lowest 3–4 times as long), obtuse. Hermaphrodite flowers about 1.5–2 mm. long; perianth segments about 1.2–1.3 mm. long-cucullate at apex. Stigmas 3, about 0.4–0.5 mm. long, arising from a disk or cup-like enlargement at apex of styles. Seeds, “horizontal”somewhat broader than long, about 1.5 × 1 mm., somewhat beaked on one side; testa blackish-brown, glossy, almost smooth “horizontal”.
Distribution
Botswana SE Boteti delta area, NE. of Mopipi, fl. 17.iv.1973, Tyers in Peterhouse 546 (K; SRGH).Botswana N Makarikari Pan, fl. 9.ix.1954, Story 4628 (K); 2 km. N. of Toromoja school, near Rakops, fl. 21.iv.1971, Pope 356 in Peterhouse 175 (K; SRGH).
Distribution (external)
Angola
Namibia
S. Africa (Transvaal, Orange Free State, Cape Prov.)
Notes
S. merxmuelleri has been from time to time misidentified both in print and in herbaria with S. fruticosa (L.) Forssk. ex J.F. Gmel. but differs as follows: the more or less columnar prolongation of the style above the ovary (almost absent in S. fruticosa), the more clearly expanded disk or collar at the apex of the style and surrounding the stigmas, the larger perianth segments (1–1.25 mm. long), more cucullate and winged above and more gibbous on back, and also by the longer anthers (1 mm. long or more as against 0.75 mm.).Smith 2523, from Botswana, N: Mopipi Pan, fl. 20.xi.1978, (K), is at first sight different in appearance from other material of S. merxmuelleri in the Flora Zambesiaca area, having larger narrow leaves to 12 × 1–1.5 mm. and longer straighter bracts 4–7 times as long as the subtended flowers. However, I suspect that this represents no more than a state of S. merxmuelleri occasioned by an unusual habitat - it was said to be “growing in fast moving water”. Seydel 844 from Namibia (K!) shows an approach to this.

Related Materials