Myrica microbracteata Weim.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Type

Type:Zimbabwe, Mt. Nyanga (Inyangani), T.C.E. Fries, Norlindh & Weimarck 3575 (LD, holotype; K; SRGH).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Male catkins 8–10 mm long; bracts 1.2–1.8 mm long, broadly ovate-triangular, becoming more deltate and contracted abruptly to a narrow base, concave, minutely ciliolate; stamens 3–4 (but usually single when at base of female catkins) Female (and bisexual) catkins 10–15 mm long, the axis evident and pubescent; bracts 2 mm long, ovate-triangular, glandular dorsally; bracteoles generally 4, 0.5–0.8 mm long, ovate, concave, ciliolate; stigma arms 2 mm long, long-caudate, slightly serrate Female (and bisexual) catkins 10–15 mm long, the axis evident and pubescent; bracts 2 mm long, ovate-triangular, glandular dorsally; bracteoles generally 4, 0.5–0.8 mm long, ovate, concave, ciliolate; stigma arms 2 mm long, long-caudate, slightly serrate. Male catkins 8–10 mm long; bracts 1.2–1.8 mm long, broadly ovate-triangular, becoming more deltate and contracted abruptly to a narrow base, concave, minutely ciliolate; stamens 3–4 (but usually single when at base of female catkins).

Ecology

Montane grassland, among rocks, and along streams; 1200–2530 m.

Note

Apparently most closely related to M. serrata, within which it was included by White, loc. cit. (1993). Leaf shapes can be matched to some extent in South Africa, but M. microbracteata looks very different from the normal plants of M. serrata collected along the rivers of Nyangani and elsewhere in the Flora Zambesiaca region.

Distribution

Nyangani. Zimbabwe Known only from Mt. ZIM E

Morphology General Habit

Shrub 1.2–3 m tall, ultimate floriferous branches rather short, crowded and leafy, dioecious or monoecious with male flowers at the base of the otherwise female catkins. Shrub 1.2–3 m tall, ultimate floriferous branches rather short, crowded and leafy, dioecious or monoecious with male flowers at the base of the otherwise female catkins

Morphology Branches

Branchlets appressed to spreading pubescent, with many glands. Branchlets appressed to spreading pubescent, with many glands

Morphology Leaves

Leaves subsessile; petiole 1–1.5 mm long, comprising the basal pulvinus; blades 20–45 × 3–8 mm, linear-oblanceolate, 5–8 times as long as broad, acute at the apex, long-cuneate to the base, coarsely serrate in the upper third or half, glabrous, with or without scattered golden glands above, but generally present beneath; lateral nerves immersed and inconspicuous in the vein reticulum on the lower part beneath, more evident higher up where they run into the marginal teeth. Leaves subsessile; petiole 1–1.5 mm long, comprising the basal pulvinus; blades 20–45 × 3–8 mm, linear-oblanceolate, 5–8 times as long as broad, acute at the apex, long-cuneate to the base, coarsely serrate in the upper third or half, glabrous, with or without scattered golden glands above, but generally present beneath; lateral nerves immersed and inconspicuous in the vein reticulum on the lower part beneath, more evident higher up where they run into the marginal teeth

sex Male

Male catkins 8–10 mm long; bracts 1.2–1.8 mm long, broadly ovate-triangular, becoming more deltate and contracted abruptly to a narrow base, concave, minutely ciliolate; stamens 3–4 (but usually single when at base of female catkins).

sex Female and Hermaphrodite

Female (and bisexual) catkins 10–15 mm long, the axis evident and pubescent; bracts 2 mm long, ovate-triangular, glandular dorsally; bracteoles generally 4, 0.5–0.8 mm long, ovate, concave, ciliolate; stigma arms 2 mm long, long-caudate, slightly serrate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits 2.5–3 mm across, globose to slightly depressed-globose. Fruits 2.5–3 mm across, globose to slightly depressed-globose.