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Amphiasma luzuloides K. Schum. Bremek. [family RUBIACEAE]

Date Updated: 26 July 2007

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 5, Part 1, (1989) Author: B. Verdcourt
Names
Amphiasma luzuloides K. Schum. Bremek. [family RUBIACEAE], in Verh. K. Nederl. Akad. Wet., Afd. Natuurk., ser. 2, 48(2): 170 (1952). —Verdc. in F.T.E.A., Rubiaceae 1: 261, fig. 37 (1976). TAB.26. Type: Malawi, Nyika Plateau, Whyte (B, holotype †; K). Oldenlandia luzuloides K. Schum. [family RUBIACEAE], in Engl., Bot. Jahrb. 28: 55 (1899). Oldenlandia luzuloides K. Schum. [family RUBIACEAE], in Engl., Bot. Jahrb. 30: 411 (1901) nom. illegit. Type from Tanzania. Amphiasma assimilis Bremek. [family RUBIACEAE], tom. cit: 172 (1952). Type: Malawi, Kondowe to Karonga, Whyte (K, holotype).
Information
Perennial herb, with erect stems 14–50 cm. tall from a many-headed rhizome; stems strict, simple or sparsely branched, glabrous. Leaves held erect; blades 1–4 cm. x 1–2(3.5) mm., linear, scabridulous above and ± ciliolate at the base of the midvein beneath; stipular sheath 2–5 mm. long, truncate or with 2 minute teeth c. 0.2 mm. long. Inflorescences 2–5, situated at the apex and at the first 2 nodes beneath, capitulate, c. 6 mm. long and wide; peduncles 2–8 mm. long; pedicels 0–1.5(3) mm. long; bracts leaf-like, 3–9 x 1–2 mm.; flowers heterostylous ? or isostylous. Calyx tube glabrous, 1–1.2 mm. long; lobes 1–1.6 mm. long, with ciliolate margins. Corolla white or tinged lavender, glabrous or papillate outside; tube 2–4 mm. long, slightly funnel-shaped, pilose inside; lobes 2.8–3.3 x 1.1–1.6 mm. the lower half pilose inside. Style 4 mm. long in long-styled flowers, 2 mm. long in short-styled flowers; stigma 0.6–1 mm. long. Capsule 2 x 2.5 mm. Seeds not seen.
Habitat
Grassland, often above upper forest edges, sometimes rocky; also in grassland with Protea scrub etc.
Altitude range
1670–2280 m. 2280 1670
Distribution
Malawi N Nyika Plateau, Chosi, fl. 21.iii.1976, Phillips 1509 (K; MO).
Distribution (external)
S. Tanzania
Notes
This species was presumably based on material at Berlin sent as a duplicate from Kew. K. Schumann curiously used the same name twice, so the second is a later homonym, but fortunately the two types belong to the same species. Bremekamp distinguished Amphiasma assimilis by having papillate isostylous flowers but the corolla varies greatly in indumentum in Amphiasma luzuloides and specimens with the anthers exserted and stigmas ± exserted have been seen; whether these are variants of brachystylous forms or genuinely isostylous could only be found out in the field. Perhaps more important the pedicels are distinctly longer in A assimilis on a few lower flowers. Certainly there are not two species in N. Malawi.
Amphiasma luzuloides K. Schum. Bremek. [family RUBIACEAE]
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