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Lysimachia ruhmeriana Vatke [family PRIMULACEAE]

Date Updated: 26 July 2007

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 7, Part 1, page 184, (1983) Author: F. K. Kupicha
Names
Lysimachia africana Engl. [family PRIMULACEAE], Pflanzenw. Ost–Afr.C: 304 (1895). — Bizzarri, tom. cit.: 644, fig. 3 (1970). Type from Tanzania. Lysimachia saganeitensis Knuth [family PRIMULACEAE], loc. cit. — Bizzarri, tom. cit.: 642, fig. 2 (1970). Type from Ethiopia. Lysimachia woodii Knuth [family PRIMULACEAE], loc. cit. Type from S. Africa (Natal). Lysimachia ruhmeriana Vatke [family PRIMULACEAE], in Linnaea 40: 204 (1876). — Oliver in F.T.A. 3: 489 (1877). — Knuth in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV, 237: 292 (1905). — P. Taylor in Kew Bull. 13: 142 (1958); in F.T.E.A., Primulaceae: 5, fig. 2 (1958). — Dyer in Fl. Southern Afr.26: 13 (1963). — Binns, H.C.L.M.: 89 (1968). — Bizzarri in Webbia 2± 640, fig. 1 (1970). — Boutique in Fl. Afr.Centr., Primulaceae: 5, t. 1 (1971). TAB. 34. Type from Ethiopia. Lysimachia parviflora Baker [family PRIMULACEAE], in Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 196 (1883). — Knuth, loc. cit. Syntypes from Madagascar.
Information
Robust perennial herb up to 1 m. tall. Stems erect or decumbent, terete, reddish, leafy. Leaves up to 6 x 1·5 cm. (in F.Z. area), broadly to narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, ± epetiolate, often shortly acuminate at the apex, cuneate, obtuse or cordate at the base; lamina surfaces and margin almost always dotted with irregular blackish glands. Racemes up to 30 cm. long, spicate, lax or congested, terminal and axillary. Pedicels up to 5 mm. long (in fruit), each subtended by a bract 2–3 mm. long. Flowers covered with short–stalked glands on all parts, especially on inner surface of calyx and corolla and on stamens. Calyx divided almost to the base; lobes c. 2·5 mm. long, oblong–elliptic. Corolla c. 3·8 mm. long, campanulate, white, pink or mauve; lobes equalling or slightly longer than calyx, elliptic. Stamens c. 2 mm. long, inserted in a ring below the corolla lobes; connective produced above the anther into a fleshy apiculus. Ovary c. 1 mm. long, globose, with style c. 1 mm. long. Capsule 3–4(5) mm. in diameter, globose, dehiscing by 5 valves, these remaining erect, not recurving. Seeds 0·8–1 mm. long, ± tetrahedral, blackish, smooth or minutely granular.
Habitat
On damp soil in swamps, in woods and by rivers.
Range
Distributed throughout tropical Africa from Ethiopia southwards to S. Africa,
Distribution
Zimbabwe E Inyanga Distr., 11 km. beyond Pungwe at edge of Matendirere R., 1680 m., fl. & fr. 26.i.1951, Chase 3559 (BM; K).Zambia E Nyika, fl. 30.xii.1962, Fanshawe 7335 (K; SRGH).Malawi C Dedza Distr., near Bembeke Parish, fr. 15.xi.1967,Jeke 130 (MAL).Mozambique MS Tsetsera, 2130 m., fl. & fr. 4.iii.1954, Wild 4487 (K; LISC; SRGH).Malawi N Chitipa Distr., Misuku Hills, 1520 m., fl. & fr. 12.L1959, Robinson 3177 (K; PRE; SRGH).
Distribution (external)
Cameroon Madagascar
Notes
I agree with P. Taylor (op. cit.) that L. ruhmeriana should be regarded as a widespread, polymorphic species, not subdivided into 5 species as advocated by Knuth and Bizzarri. The type of L. ruhmeriana has semi–amplexicaul leaves, a congested inflorescence and relatively large (5 mm. long) capsules and so is rather different in appearance from the representatives in the F.Z. area, which tend to have leaves tapering at the base, lax spikes and smaller capsules. In Bizzarri’s classification the latter all belong to L. africana. However, these characters appear to be uncorrelated, varying independently throughout Africa.

Date Updated: 26 July 2007

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 7, Part 1, page 184, (1983) Author: F. K. Kupicha
Names
Lysimachia africana Engl. [family PRIMULACEAE], Pflanzenw. Ost–Afr.C: 304 (1895). — Bizzarri, tom. cit.: 644, fig. 3 (1970). Type from Tanzania. Lysimachia saganeitensis Knuth [family PRIMULACEAE], loc. cit. — Bizzarri, tom. cit.: 642, fig. 2 (1970). Type from Ethiopia. Lysimachia woodii Knuth [family PRIMULACEAE], loc. cit. Type from S. Africa (Natal). Lysimachia ruhmeriana Vatke [family PRIMULACEAE], in Linnaea 40: 204 (1876). — Oliver in F.T.A. 3: 489 (1877). — Knuth in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV, 237: 292 (1905). — P. Taylor in Kew Bull. 13: 142 (1958); in F.T.E.A., Primulaceae: 5, fig. 2 (1958). — Dyer in Fl. Southern Afr.26: 13 (1963). — Binns, H.C.L.M.: 89 (1968). — Bizzarri in Webbia 2± 640, fig. 1 (1970). — Boutique in Fl. Afr.Centr., Primulaceae: 5, t. 1 (1971). TAB. 34. Type from Ethiopia. Lysimachia parviflora Baker [family PRIMULACEAE], in Journ. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 196 (1883). — Knuth, loc. cit. Syntypes from Madagascar.
Information
Robust perennial herb up to 1 m. tall. Stems erect or decumbent, terete, reddish, leafy. Leaves up to 6 x 1·5 cm. (in F.Z. area), broadly to narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, ± epetiolate, often shortly acuminate at the apex, cuneate, obtuse or cordate at the base; lamina surfaces and margin almost always dotted with irregular blackish glands. Racemes up to 30 cm. long, spicate, lax or congested, terminal and axillary. Pedicels up to 5 mm. long (in fruit), each subtended by a bract 2–3 mm. long. Flowers covered with short–stalked glands on all parts, especially on inner surface of calyx and corolla and on stamens. Calyx divided almost to the base; lobes c. 2·5 mm. long, oblong–elliptic. Corolla c. 3·8 mm. long, campanulate, white, pink or mauve; lobes equalling or slightly longer than calyx, elliptic. Stamens c. 2 mm. long, inserted in a ring below the corolla lobes; connective produced above the anther into a fleshy apiculus. Ovary c. 1 mm. long, globose, with style c. 1 mm. long. Capsule 3–4(5) mm. in diameter, globose, dehiscing by 5 valves, these remaining erect, not recurving. Seeds 0·8–1 mm. long, ± tetrahedral, blackish, smooth or minutely granular.
Habitat
On damp soil in swamps, in woods and by rivers.
Range
Distributed throughout tropical Africa from Ethiopia southwards to S. Africa,
Distribution
Zimbabwe E Inyanga Distr., 11 km. beyond Pungwe at edge of Matendirere R., 1680 m., fl. & fr. 26.i.1951, Chase 3559 (BM; K).Zambia E Nyika, fl. 30.xii.1962, Fanshawe 7335 (K; SRGH).Malawi C Dedza Distr., near Bembeke Parish, fr. 15.xi.1967,Jeke 130 (MAL).Mozambique MS Tsetsera, 2130 m., fl. & fr. 4.iii.1954, Wild 4487 (K; LISC; SRGH).Malawi N Chitipa Distr., Misuku Hills, 1520 m., fl. & fr. 12.L1959, Robinson 3177 (K; PRE; SRGH).
Distribution (external)
Cameroon Madagascar
Notes
I agree with P. Taylor (op. cit.) that L. ruhmeriana should be regarded as a widespread, polymorphic species, not subdivided into 5 species as advocated by Knuth and Bizzarri. The type of L. ruhmeriana has semi–amplexicaul leaves, a congested inflorescence and relatively large (5 mm. long) capsules and so is rather different in appearance from the representatives in the F.Z. area, which tend to have leaves tapering at the base, lax spikes and smaller capsules. In Bizzarri’s classification the latter all belong to L. africana. However, these characters appear to be uncorrelated, varying independently throughout Africa.
Lysimachia ruhmeriana Vatke [family PRIMULACEAE]
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