Edit History
Polygala persicariifolia DC. [family POLYGALACEAE]
Date Updated: 26 July 2007
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 1, Part 1, page 303, (1960) Author: A. W. Exell
Names
Polygala persicariifolia DC. [family POLYGALACEAE], Prodr. 1: 326 (1824). — Chod. in Mém. Soc. Phys. Hist. Nat. Genève,31 2: 331, t. 27 fig. 22–23 (1893) — E. Petit, F.C.B. 7: 254 (1958). TAB. 57 fig. 16. Type from Nepal.
Polygala persicariifolia var. latifolia Oliv. [family POLYGALACEAE], F.T.A. 1: 129 (1868). Type: Mozambique, Manganja Hills, fl. & fr. 8.iii.1862, Kirk (K).
Polygala persicariifolia var. densiflora Chod. [family POLYGALACEAE], torn. cit.: 333 (1893). Type: Nyasaland, Shire Highlands, \"leg. Blantyre\" (sic). One of the specimens collected by Buchanan may have been intended as the type.
Information
Annual up to 60 cm. or more tall; stems slender, often arcuate-ascending, crisped-pubescent. Leaves 2–8 x 0.5–2 cm., elliptic to very narrowly elliptic, somewhat acuminate, with rather sparse, short, bristly hairs. Flowers greenish, pink or purplish, pedicels 3–4 mm. long, in many-flowered, terminal and lateral racemes up to 10 cm. long; rhachis crisped-pubescent; bracts 1.5–2 mm. long; bracteoles up to 0.8 mm. long, persistent. Posterior sepal 3–3.5 mm. long, keel-shaped; wing sepals 5–7 x 3.5–6 mm., very broadly elliptic to suborbicular with rather prominent venation, glabrous; anterior sepals 2.5–3 mm. long, free, keel-shaped. Upper petals 3 mm. long, obliquely and irregularly elliptic, notched on one side; carina 4 x 1.5 mm., crest 1.5 mm. long, purple. Stamens 8. Capsule 5 x 4.5 mm., very broadly elliptic to suborbicular in outline, ciliate on the margin, with a narrow wing less than 0.5 mm. broad. Seeds 3 x 1.5 mm., oblong-ellipsoid, with white silky hairs; caruncular appendages scarcely developed.
Habitat
Grasslands and roadsides
Range
Tropical Asia and from the Sudan and Ethiopia to Mozambique.
Altitude range
up to c. 900–1250 m.
1250
900
Distribution
Zambia W Ndola, fl. 27.ii.1954, Fanshawe 877 (K).Mozambique T Manganja Hills, fl. and fr. 8.iii.1862, Kirk (K).Mozambique N Massangulo, 1100 m., fl. iii.1933, Gomes e Sousa 1325 (COI).Zambia N Abercorn, Kalambo Falls, fl. & fr. 30.iii.1952, Richards 1298 (K).Malawi S Namwera Escarpment, Jalasi, 1120 m., fl. 15.iii.1955, E.M. & W. 897 (BM; LISC; SRGH).
Notes
Owing to the erroneous synonymy given by Oliver (loc. cit.) this species has been much confused with the quite distinct P. sphenoptera Fresen. (P. quartiniana A. Rich.)
Date Updated: 26 July 2007
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 1, Part 1, page 303, (1960) Author: A. W. Exell
Names
Polygala persicariifolia DC. [family POLYGALACEAE], Prodr. 1: 326 (1824). — Chod. in Mém. Soc. Phys. Hist. Nat. Genève,31 2: 331, t. 27 fig. 22–23 (1893) — E. Petit, F.C.B. 7: 254 (1958). TAB. 57 fig. 16. Type from Nepal.
Polygala persicariifolia var. latifolia Oliv. [family POLYGALACEAE], F.T.A. 1: 129 (1868). Type: Mozambique, Manganja Hills, fl. & fr. 8.iii.1862, Kirk (K).
Polygala persicariifolia var. densiflora Chod. [family POLYGALACEAE], torn. cit.: 333 (1893). Type: Nyasaland, Shire Highlands, \"leg. Blantyre\" (sic). One of the specimens collected by Buchanan may have been intended as the type.
Information
Annual up to 60 cm. or more tall; stems slender, often arcuate-ascending, crisped-pubescent. Leaves 2–8 x 0.5–2 cm., elliptic to very narrowly elliptic, somewhat acuminate, with rather sparse, short, bristly hairs. Flowers greenish, pink or purplish, pedicels 3–4 mm. long, in many-flowered, terminal and lateral racemes up to 10 cm. long; rhachis crisped-pubescent; bracts 1.5–2 mm. long; bracteoles up to 0.8 mm. long, persistent. Posterior sepal 3–3.5 mm. long, keel-shaped; wing sepals 5–7 x 3.5–6 mm., very broadly elliptic to suborbicular with rather prominent venation, glabrous; anterior sepals 2.5–3 mm. long, free, keel-shaped. Upper petals 3 mm. long, obliquely and irregularly elliptic, notched on one side; carina 4 x 1.5 mm., crest 1.5 mm. long, purple. Stamens 8. Capsule 5 x 4.5 mm., very broadly elliptic to suborbicular in outline, ciliate on the margin, with a narrow wing less than 0.5 mm. broad. Seeds 3 x 1.5 mm., oblong-ellipsoid, with white silky hairs; caruncular appendages scarcely developed.
Habitat
Grasslands and roadsides
Range
Tropical Asia and from the Sudan and Ethiopia to Mozambique.
Altitude range
up to c. 900–1250 m.
1250
900
Distribution
Zambia W Ndola, fl. 27.ii.1954, Fanshawe 877 (K).Mozambique T Manganja Hills, fl. and fr. 8.iii.1862, Kirk (K).Mozambique N Massangulo, 1100 m., fl. iii.1933, Gomes e Sousa 1325 (COI).Zambia N Abercorn, Kalambo Falls, fl. & fr. 30.iii.1952, Richards 1298 (K).Malawi S Namwera Escarpment, Jalasi, 1120 m., fl. 15.iii.1955, E.M. & W. 897 (BM; LISC; SRGH).
Notes
Owing to the erroneous synonymy given by Oliver (loc. cit.) this species has been much confused with the quite distinct P. sphenoptera Fresen. (P. quartiniana A. Rich.)
![Polygala persicariifolia DC. [family POLYGALACEAE]](/fsi/img/misc/plants/static_thumbs/flora_zambesiaca_icon96.jpg)
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