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Portulaca hereroensis Schinz [family PORTULACACEAE]

Date Updated: 26 July 2007

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 1, Part 2, page 362, (1961) Author: H. Wild
Names
Sedopsis hereroensis Schinz Poellnitz [family PORTULACACEAE], in Bol. Soc. Brot., Sér. 2, 15: 152 (1941). Type as above. Portulaca hereroensis Schinz [family PORTULACACEAE], in Mém. Herb. Boiss. 20: 18 (1900). — Poellnitz in Fedde, Repert. 37: 308 (1934). — Exell & Mendonça, C.F.A. 1, 1: 116 (1937). TAB. 69 fig. B. Type from SW. Africa.
Information
Delicate annual herb with spreading or prostrate often reddish branches up to c. 7 cm. long and 1 mm. in diam. Leaves opposite, fleshy, 2–4 × 1–2 mm., elliptic to broadly elliptic or broadly ovate, apex obtuse; stipular hairs fairly numerous, c. 2 mm. long. Flowers solitary or 2–3 together at the ends of the branches, surrounded by a cluster of apical leaves and hairs equalling the length of the leaves. Sepals up to 3 mm. long, ovate, acute at the apex, pale and rather thin-textured. Petals 4, purplish or white, 1–1·5 mm. long, united to about half-way. Stamens 4, alternating with the petals. Ovary ovoid; style c. 0·5 mm. long, with 4 stigmas. Capsule c. 2 mm. long, ovoid-globose, dehiscing horizontally below the middle. Seeds many, grey, c. 0–5 mm. in diam., reniform, somewhat laterally compressed, with concentric lines of minute blunt tubercles.
Habitat
In shallow soil on rocky outcrops and often a pioneer on bare alluvial soils.
Distribution
Mozambique M Magude, Chobela, fl. & fr. 12.ii.1953, Myre & Balsinhas 1453 (K; LM).Zimbabwe S Sabi R., West Bank, fl. & fr. 2.ii.1948, Wild 2489 (BM; K; SRGH).Zimbabwe E Sabi Valley, Muhenye, fl. & fr. 23.i.1957, Phipps 140 (K; SRGH).Zimbabwe C Hartley, Poole, fl. & fr. 22.iv.1951, Hornby 3276 (SRGH).Zimbabwe W Matobo, fl. & fr. 16.iii.1957, Garley 152 (SRGH).Botswana SE Metsimaklaba near Gaberones, fl. & fr. 14.iii.1940, van Son in Herb. Transv. Mus. 28985 (BM; PRE; SRGH).Mozambique T Tete, ii.1859, Kirk (K).Malawi N Nymkowa, fl. & fr. ii-iii.1903, McClounie 175 (K).Zimbabwe N Kariba, fl. & fr. vi.1960, Goldsmith 77/60 (K; SRGH).Botswana N between Leshumo and Thneamansfly, fl. & fr. 21.ii.1877, Holub (K).
Distribution (external)
SW. Africa Transvaal
Notes
This rather inconspicuous species has long been confused with P. quadrifida but its 4 stamens render requite distinct. It was placed in the genus Sedopsis (Engl.) Exell & Mendonça by von Poellnitz (loc. cit.) but the view taken here is that of Dyer & Bruce (Fl. Pl. Afr.: t. 1069 (1949)) that the genus Sedopsis cannot be separated satisfactorily from Portulaca since, among other reasons, the more recently described P. rhodesiana is intermediate in several characters between the two genera. P. hereroensis was described as having a single stigma and in young flowers this often appears to be so. In mature flowers the 4 (? or sometimes 3) stigmas separate out.
Portulaca hereroensis Schinz [family PORTULACACEAE]
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