Edit History
Melhania parviflora Chiov. [family STERCULIACEAE]
Date Updated: 19 August 2007
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, Author: MARTIN CHEEK AND LAURENCE DORR
Names
Melhania parviflora Chiov. [family STERCULIACEAE], Fl. Somala 2: 31 (1932); E.P.A.: 578 (1959); Blundell, Wild Flow. E. Afr.: t. 289 (1987), excl. syn. M. taylorii; Vollesen in Fl. Eth. 2(2): 174, fig. 80.4/2 (1995); Thulin, Fl. Som. 2: 26 (1999). Types: Somalia, near El Ualud, Gorini 485 (FT, syn.), Gorini 495 (FT, syn)
Information
Annual or perennial suffrutescent herb or shrub to 0.5 m tall; erect, branches ascending; young stems canescent to castaneous-tomentose, the hairs stellate with subappressed arms and often with reddish-brown centres (the coloured base of the arms); glabrous in age, the stems dark reddish-brown. Leaves narrowly ovate, narrowly elliptic, or oblong (rarely lanceolate), 1.2–7 cm long, 0.5–3 cm wide, apex acute, rounded or emarginate, margin very shallowly serrulate to crenulate, base rounded, velutinous above, paler (often cinereous) below and velutinous, the hairs above and below stellate, the arms ± ascending and often with reddish-brown centres; palmately 3–5-nerved from the base; petiole 3–20 mm long, velutinous, the hairs stellate and often with reddish-brown centres; stipules filiform, 2–6 mm long, caducous. Inflorescences 2–4-flowered cymes (sometimes appearing subumbellate), or flowers solitary; peduncle 0.3–2.2 cm long, ± 1 mm wide, velutinous when young, glabrous in age; pedicels 2–8 mm long, velutinous when young, glabrous in age; epicalyx bracts lanceolate, narrowly ovate, or ovate (never subulate or linear-lanceolate), 5–11 mm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, tomentose. Floral buds ovoid, the sepal tips very briefly free. Sepals narrowly ovate, 4–10 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, sometimes caudate, tomentose without, glabrous within. Petals broadly obovate, slightly asymmetrical, 5–8 mm long, 4–10 mm wide, ± truncate to slightly rounded apically, bright to pale yellow, glabrous. Staminal tube 0.5–2 mm long, free portion of filaments 1–2 mm long, anthers 1–3 mm long, free portion of staminodes 3.5–6 mm long, glabrous. Ovary ovoid, 2–3 mm long, 2–3 mm in diameter, velutinous; 4 ovules per locule; style (1–)2–3 mm long; stigma lobes 1–1.5 mm long, erect. Capsules subglobose to ovoid, 4–7 mm long, 4–8 mm in diameter, tomentose, 2–3(–4) seeds per locule; seed trigonal to ovoid, 1.5–2 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide, testa densely muricate, wihout an elaiosome.
Range
DISTR. U 1; K 1, 7; T 6, 8
Altitude range
0–850(–1400) m
Distribution
KENYA Northern Frontier District 40 km on the El Wak-Wajir road, 29 Apr. 1978, Gilbert & Thulin 1193!KENYA Kilifi District Kinyoli, 32 km from Malindi, June 1959, Rawlins 800!KENYA Kwale District Twiga, 18 Jan. 1964, Verdcourt 3950!TANZANIA Rufiji District Mafia Island, Juani Mji, 23 Sep. 1937, Greenway 5298!TANZANIA Kilwa District Selous Game Reserve, 23 km SW of Kingupira thicket, 23 May 1975, Vollesen MRC 2361!UGANDA Karamoja District 1 km from Karita, 10 Oct. 1964, Leippert 5097!
Distribution (external)
Ethiopia
Somalia
Notes
CONSERVATION This species appears to be fairly widespread and common (15 specimens in the FTEA area alone), and its habitat not significantly threatened as far as is known. It is rated here as of “least concern” for conservation. Thulin (1999: 26), and others, have observed that M. parviflora is very close to, and possibly conspecific with, M. cannabina Mast., which was described from India. The latter name would have priority if the two names were combined as synonyms. Material from U 1 (Lieppert 5097) and K 1 (Gilbert & Thulin 1193; Gillett 13235), in particular, has longer and narrower (lanceolate) leaves. In this respect the material resembles greatly that of M. ovata from Ethiopia and a few specimens from Somalia. The more typical M. parviflora is frequently collected in K 7 (and Somalia) and has ovate leaves with relatively longer petiole. The lanceolate, narrowly ovate, or ovate (as opposed to subulate or linear) epicalyx bracts readily separate M. parviflora from M. ovata. The taxon is reported in the Mkomazi checklist (T 3), but I have not been able to verify the record. The leaves on several specimens (e.g., Napier 6362; G.R. Williams 828) from coastal Kenya have been eaten by leaf miners or other insects leaving distinctive elongate, brown holes in the epidermis.
Date Updated: 19 August 2007
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, Author: MARTIN CHEEK AND LAURENCE DORR
Names
Melhania parviflora Chiov. [family STERCULIACEAE], Fl. Somala 2: 31 (1932); E.P.A.: 578 (1959); Blundell, Wild Flow. E. Afr.: t. 289 (1987), excl. syn. M. taylorii; Vollesen in Fl. Eth. 2(2): 174, fig. 80.4/2 (1995); Thulin, Fl. Som. 2: 26 (1999). Types: Somalia, near El Ualud, Gorini 485 (FT, syn.), Gorini 495 (FT, syn)
Information
Annual or perennial suffrutescent herb or shrub to 0.5 m tall; erect, branches ascending; young stems canescent to castaneous-tomentose, the hairs stellate with subappressed arms and often with reddish-brown centres (the coloured base of the arms); glabrous in age, the stems dark reddish-brown. Leaves narrowly ovate, narrowly elliptic, or oblong (rarely lanceolate), 1.2–7 cm long, 0.5–3 cm wide, apex acute, rounded or emarginate, margin very shallowly serrulate to crenulate, base rounded, velutinous above, paler (often cinereous) below and velutinous, the hairs above and below stellate, the arms ± ascending and often with reddish-brown centres; palmately 3–5-nerved from the base; petiole 3–20 mm long, velutinous, the hairs stellate and often with reddish-brown centres; stipules filiform, 2–6 mm long, caducous. Inflorescences 2–4-flowered cymes (sometimes appearing subumbellate), or flowers solitary; peduncle 0.3–2.2 cm long, ± 1 mm wide, velutinous when young, glabrous in age; pedicels 2–8 mm long, velutinous when young, glabrous in age; epicalyx bracts lanceolate, narrowly ovate, or ovate (never subulate or linear-lanceolate), 5–11 mm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, tomentose. Floral buds ovoid, the sepal tips very briefly free. Sepals narrowly ovate, 4–10 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, sometimes caudate, tomentose without, glabrous within. Petals broadly obovate, slightly asymmetrical, 5–8 mm long, 4–10 mm wide, ± truncate to slightly rounded apically, bright to pale yellow, glabrous. Staminal tube 0.5–2 mm long, free portion of filaments 1–2 mm long, anthers 1–3 mm long, free portion of staminodes 3.5–6 mm long, glabrous. Ovary ovoid, 2–3 mm long, 2–3 mm in diameter, velutinous; 4 ovules per locule; style (1–)2–3 mm long; stigma lobes 1–1.5 mm long, erect. Capsules subglobose to ovoid, 4–7 mm long, 4–8 mm in diameter, tomentose, 2–3(–4) seeds per locule; seed trigonal to ovoid, 1.5–2 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide, testa densely muricate, wihout an elaiosome.
Range
DISTR. U 1; K 1, 7; T 6, 8
Altitude range
0–850(–1400) m
Distribution
KENYA Northern Frontier District 40 km on the El Wak-Wajir road, 29 Apr. 1978, Gilbert & Thulin 1193!KENYA Kilifi District Kinyoli, 32 km from Malindi, June 1959, Rawlins 800!KENYA Kwale District Twiga, 18 Jan. 1964, Verdcourt 3950!TANZANIA Rufiji District Mafia Island, Juani Mji, 23 Sep. 1937, Greenway 5298!TANZANIA Kilwa District Selous Game Reserve, 23 km SW of Kingupira thicket, 23 May 1975, Vollesen MRC 2361!UGANDA Karamoja District 1 km from Karita, 10 Oct. 1964, Leippert 5097!
Distribution (external)
Ethiopia
Somalia
Notes
CONSERVATION This species appears to be fairly widespread and common (15 specimens in the FTEA area alone), and its habitat not significantly threatened as far as is known. It is rated here as of “least concern” for conservation. Thulin (1999: 26), and others, have observed that M. parviflora is very close to, and possibly conspecific with, M. cannabina Mast., which was described from India. The latter name would have priority if the two names were combined as synonyms. Material from U 1 (Lieppert 5097) and K 1 (Gilbert & Thulin 1193; Gillett 13235), in particular, has longer and narrower (lanceolate) leaves. In this respect the material resembles greatly that of M. ovata from Ethiopia and a few specimens from Somalia. The more typical M. parviflora is frequently collected in K 7 (and Somalia) and has ovate leaves with relatively longer petiole. The lanceolate, narrowly ovate, or ovate (as opposed to subulate or linear) epicalyx bracts readily separate M. parviflora from M. ovata. The taxon is reported in the Mkomazi checklist (T 3), but I have not been able to verify the record. The leaves on several specimens (e.g., Napier 6362; G.R. Williams 828) from coastal Kenya have been eaten by leaf miners or other insects leaving distinctive elongate, brown holes in the epidermis.
Date Updated: 19 August 2007
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, Author: MARTIN CHEEK AND LAURENCE DORR
Names
Melhania parviflora Chiov. [family STERCULIACEAE], Fl. Somala 2: 31 (1932); E.P.A.: 578 (1959); Blundell, Wild Flow. E. Afr.: t. 289 (1987), excl. syn. M. taylorii; Vollesen in Fl. Eth. 2(2): 174, fig. 80.4/2 (1995); Thulin, Fl. Som. 2: 26 (1999). Types: Somalia, near El Ualud, Gorini 485 (FT, syn.), Gorini 495 (FT, syn)
Information
Annual or perennial suffrutescent herb or shrub to 0.5 m tall; erect, branches ascending; young stems canescent to castaneous-tomentose, the hairs stellate with subappressed arms and often with reddish-brown centres (the coloured base of the arms); glabrous in age, the stems dark reddish-brown. Leaves narrowly ovate, narrowly elliptic, or oblong (rarely lanceolate), 1.2–7 cm long, 0.5–3 cm wide, apex acute, rounded or emarginate, margin very shallowly serrulate to crenulate, base rounded, velutinous above, paler (often cinereous) below and velutinous, the hairs above and below stellate, the arms ± ascending and often with reddish-brown centres; palmately 3–5-nerved from the base; petiole 3–20 mm long, velutinous, the hairs stellate and often with reddish-brown centres; stipules filiform, 2–6 mm long, caducous. Inflorescences 2–4-flowered cymes (sometimes appearing subumbellate), or flowers solitary; peduncle 0.3–2.2 cm long, ± 1 mm wide, velutinous when young, glabrous in age; pedicels 2–8 mm long, velutinous when young, glabrous in age; epicalyx bracts lanceolate, narrowly ovate, or ovate (never subulate or linear-lanceolate), 5–11 mm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, tomentose. Floral buds ovoid, the sepal tips very briefly free. Sepals narrowly ovate, 4–10 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide, sometimes caudate, tomentose without, glabrous within. Petals broadly obovate, slightly asymmetrical, 5–8 mm long, 4–10 mm wide, ± truncate to slightly rounded apically, bright to pale yellow, glabrous. Staminal tube 0.5–2 mm long, free portion of filaments 1–2 mm long, anthers 1–3 mm long, free portion of staminodes 3.5–6 mm long, glabrous. Ovary ovoid, 2–3 mm long, 2–3 mm in diameter, velutinous; 4 ovules per locule; style (1–)2–3 mm long; stigma lobes 1–1.5 mm long, erect. Capsules subglobose to ovoid, 4–7 mm long, 4–8 mm in diameter, tomentose, 2–3(–4) seeds per locule; seed trigonal to ovoid, 1.5–2 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide, testa densely muricate, wihout an elaiosome.
Range
DISTR. U 1; K 1, 7; T 6, 8
Altitude range
0–850(–1400) m
Distribution
KENYA Northern Frontier District 40 km on the El Wak-Wajir road, 29 Apr. 1978, Gilbert & Thulin 1193!KENYA Kilifi District Kinyoli, 32 km from Malindi, June 1959, Rawlins 800!KENYA Kwale District Twiga, 18 Jan. 1964, Verdcourt 3950!TANZANIA Rufiji District Mafia Island, Juani Mji, 23 Sep. 1937, Greenway 5298!TANZANIA Kilwa District Selous Game Reserve, 23 km SW of Kingupira thicket, 23 May 1975, Vollesen MRC 2361!UGANDA Karamoja District 1 km from Karita, 10 Oct. 1964, Leippert 5097!
Distribution (external)
Ethiopia
Somalia
Notes
CONSERVATION This species appears to be fairly widespread and common (15 specimens in the FTEA area alone), and its habitat not significantly threatened as far as is known. It is rated here as of “least concern” for conservation. Thulin (1999: 26), and others, have observed that M. parviflora is very close to, and possibly conspecific with, M. cannabina Mast., which was described from India. The latter name would have priority if the two names were combined as synonyms. Material from U 1 (Lieppert 5097) and K 1 (Gilbert & Thulin 1193; Gillett 13235), in particular, has longer and narrower (lanceolate) leaves. In this respect the material resembles greatly that of M. ovata from Ethiopia and a few specimens from Somalia. The more typical M. parviflora is frequently collected in K 7 (and Somalia) and has ovate leaves with relatively longer petiole. The lanceolate, narrowly ovate, or ovate (as opposed to subulate or linear) epicalyx bracts readily separate M. parviflora from M. ovata. The taxon is reported in the Mkomazi checklist (T 3), but I have not been able to verify the record. The leaves on several specimens (e.g., Napier 6362; G.R. Williams 828) from coastal Kenya have been eaten by leaf miners or other insects leaving distinctive elongate, brown holes in the epidermis.
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