Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, (2002) Author: SILESHI NEMOMISSA
Names
PYCNOSPHAERA buchananii (Baker) N.E. Br. [family GENTIANACEAE], in F.T.A. 4 (1): 565 (1903); R.E. Fr. in Wiss. Ergebn. Schwed. Rhod.-Kongo-Exped., 1: 260 (1914); F.P.U.: 122 (1962); P. Taylor in F.W.T.A. ed. 2, 2: 302 (1963); Boutique in F.A.C., Gentianaceae: 3, t. 1 (1972); Paiva & I. Nogueira in F.Z. 7 (4): 47, t. 15 (1990). Type: Malawi, without locality, Buchanan 1135 (K!, holo., BM!, iso.)
Faroa buchananii Baker [family GENTIANACEAE], in K.B. 1894: 26 (1894)
Pycnosphaera vanderysti De Wild. [family GENTIANACEAE], in Pl. Bequaert. 2: 107 (1923). Type: Congo (Kinshasa), Wombali, Vanderyst 1933 & 2433 (both BR, syn.)
Pycnosphaera quarrei De Wild. [family GENTIANACEAE], in Contr. Fl. Katanga, Suppl. 1: 69 (1927). Type: Congo (Kinshasa), Shaba, Munama, Quarré 1184 (BR, holo., K!, iso.)
Information
Annual or perennial herb 15–60 cm high. Stem simple or branched near inflorescence, 2-ridged. Leaves somewhat fleshy, midrib impressed above, prominent beneath; basal leaves in a rosette, deciduous, oblong-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, 1.5–6 cm long, 0.5–0.8 cm wide, subacute; cauline leaves linear, narrowly lanceolate or elliptic, 30–43 mm long, 3–6 mm wide, subacute, decurrent. Inflorescences terminal, in a head-like cyme; bracts subtending inflorescence linear, elliptic or subovate, 7–10 mm long, 1–3 mm wide, subobtuse. Flowers sessile, pink, mauve, blue-violet to white. Calyx unequal; lateral sepals oblong-elliptic, 3.2–3.7 mm long, 1–1.2mm wide, strongly keeled; dorsal sepal oblong-obovate, 3.2–3.5 mm long, ± 2.4 mm wide, emarginate or slightly 3-lobed. Corolla tube ± 3 mm long, basally hyaline, scabrid-denticulate inside; lobes elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, 1.8–2.6 mm long, 1–1.2 mm wide, acute. Filaments ± 1.8–2 mm long, linear; anthers cylindric to ovoid, 0.8–0.9 mm long, minutely apiculate. Ovary slightly ellipsoid, 1.5 mm long, 0.8–1.2 mm diameter; style ± 2.4 mm long; stigma with two linear branches, ± 1.4 mm long. Capsule ellipsoid, 2–3.4 mm long, 2 mm diameter. Seeds minute, surface pitted. Fig. 10 (p. 37).
Distribution
TANZANIA Songea District by R. Luhira N of Songea, 16 Feb. 1956, Milne - Readhead & Taylor 8815a!;TANZANIA Songea District Mawesu Valley, July 1958, Semsei 2425 (fide EA)UGANDA Masaka District Buddu county, E side of Lake Kayanja, 25 Apr. 1969, Lye & Morrison 2648! & Lake Nabugabo, Oct. 1932, Eggeling 949! & Bukakata, June 1925, Maitland 785!