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Polygala pygmaea Gürke [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 pygmaea Gürke [family POLYGALACEAE], in Engl., Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C: 234 (1895). — Exell & Mendonça, C.F.A. 1 1: 103 (1937). — E. Petit, F.C.B. 7: 248, fig. 7B (1958). TAB. 57 fig. 18. Type from Tanganyika.
Information
Annual 6–15 cm. tall, usually of dwarfed, tufted appearance; stems crisped-pubescent. Leaves 15–60 x 1–7 mm., linear or linear-elliptic to narrowly elliptic, glabrous or very minutely pubescent. Flowers white, lilac or pinkish, pedicels 2–3 mm. long, in terminal racemes with dichotomous cymose branching much as in P. arenaria but the whole inflorescence much congested in conformity with the dwarf habit. Posterior sepal 1.5 mm. long; wing sepals 2–2.5 x 2–3 mm., suborbicular; anterior sepals, 1.5 mm. long, free. Upper petals 1.5 x 1.5 mm., rounded at the apex with a notch on one side and a projection on the other; carina 2.5 mm. long, crest 1 mm. long. Stamens 8. Capsule 2.5 x 2.2 mm., suborbicular in outline, glabrous. Seeds 2 x 1 mm., ellipsoid, white-silky-pubescent; caruncle about 0.5 mm. long with appendages about the same length.
Habitat
Usually on sand, but little ecological information is available.
Distribution
Zimbabwe E Umtali, Dora R., fl. & fr. 20.v.1935, Eyles 8429 (K).Zimbabwe C Marandellas, Grasslands, fl. & fr. 20.iii.1948, Corby in GHS. 20900 (BM; SRGH).Zambia S Mapanza, 1060 m., fl. & fr. 26.ii.1955, Robinson 1121 (K).Zambia W Mwinilunga Distr. near source of Matonchi R., fl. & fr., 16.ii.1938, Milne-Redhead 4602 (BM; K).Zambia B below Gonye Falls, 1030 m., fl. & fr. 28.iv.1925, Pocock 154 (PRE).Zimbabwe W Matopos, World’s View, fl. & fr. 5.viii.1929, Rendle 373 (BM).
Distribution (external)
Uganda Tanganyika Belgian Congo Angola
Notes
This species is very close to P. welwitschii Chod. (1893) and may eventually have to be united with it. P. pygmaea has a more dwarfed habit and slightly smaller flowers. Milne-Redhead 4602 is of less compact habit than the other specimens seen but may have been growing in shade.The species is either rare in our area or may have been overlooked.

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 pygmaea Gürke [family POLYGALACEAE], in Engl., Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C: 234 (1895). — Exell & Mendonça, C.F.A. 1 1: 103 (1937). — E. Petit, F.C.B. 7: 248, fig. 7B (1958). TAB. 57 fig. 18. Type from Tanganyika.
Information
Annual 6–15 cm. tall, usually of dwarfed, tufted appearance; stems crisped-pubescent. Leaves 15–60 x 1–7 mm., linear or linear-elliptic to narrowly elliptic, glabrous or very minutely pubescent. Flowers white, lilac or pinkish, pedicels 2–3 mm. long, in terminal racemes with dichotomous cymose branching much as in P. arenaria but the whole inflorescence much congested in conformity with the dwarf habit. Posterior sepal 1.5 mm. long; wing sepals 2–2.5 x 2–3 mm., suborbicular; anterior sepals, 1.5 mm. long, free. Upper petals 1.5 x 1.5 mm., rounded at the apex with a notch on one side and a projection on the other; carina 2.5 mm. long, crest 1 mm. long. Stamens 8. Capsule 2.5 x 2.2 mm., suborbicular in outline, glabrous. Seeds 2 x 1 mm., ellipsoid, white-silky-pubescent; caruncle about 0.5 mm. long with appendages about the same length.
Habitat
Usually on sand, but little ecological information is available.
Distribution
Zimbabwe E Umtali, Dora R., fl. & fr. 20.v.1935, Eyles 8429 (K).Zimbabwe C Marandellas, Grasslands, fl. & fr. 20.iii.1948, Corby in GHS. 20900 (BM; SRGH).Zambia S Mapanza, 1060 m., fl. & fr. 26.ii.1955, Robinson 1121 (K).Zambia W Mwinilunga Distr. near source of Matonchi R., fl. & fr., 16.ii.1938, Milne-Redhead 4602 (BM; K).Zambia B below Gonye Falls, 1030 m., fl. & fr. 28.iv.1925, Pocock 154 (PRE).Zimbabwe W Matopos, World’s View, fl. & fr. 5.viii.1929, Rendle 373 (BM).
Distribution (external)
Uganda Tanganyika Belgian Congo Angola
Notes
This species is very close to P. welwitschii Chod. (1893) and may eventually have to be united with it. P. pygmaea has a more dwarfed habit and slightly smaller flowers. Milne-Redhead 4602 is of less compact habit than the other specimens seen but may have been growing in shade.The species is either rare in our area or may have been overlooked.
Polygala pygmaea Gürke [family POLYGALACEAE]
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