Nerophila senegambiensis (Guill. & Perr.) Ver.-Lib. & R.D.Stone

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Melastomataceae, R. and A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

An annual, biennial or perennial, much-branched, erect herb up to 2 m. tall.

Morphology Branches

Branches 4-gonous, pale green to dull red, sparsely to densely hirsute with pale spreading bristles up to 7 mm. long, longer at the nodes.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, those of the main stem patent or folded along the midrib and reflexed; lamina 1·5–9 x 0·8–2–5 cm., narrowly lanceolate to elliptic-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, rarely ovate, acute at the apex, roundish and contracted at the base, subentire or crenate, subconcolorous (both faces light green) or discolorous (dark- or yellow-green above, lighter beneath), somewhat rigid, sparsely to densely appressed-setose above, subhirsute below, longitudinally 3-S-nerved, the nerves slender, impressed on the upper face, slightly raised on the lower, the transverse nerves and reticulation inconspicuous; petiole 2–10 mm. long, slender, hirsute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4- or 5-merous, subsessile, in terminal and axillary cymes, those of the main stem often approximate and usually forming congested inflorescences; bracts shorter than the receptacle, brownish, scarious, ciliate, late deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle 5–7 x 4 mm., cylindric, long whitish- or purplish-hirsute, covered with cylindric, patent or reflexed usually long appendages somewhat dilated and long stellate-setose at the apex or rarely the appendages short and with 1-few bristles at the top.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 4–6 x 2–3 mm., oblong, stellate-setose at the apex, ciliate at the margin, caducous; intersepalar segments like the uppermost receptacle-appendages but longer.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 12–17 x 8–13 mm. long, obovate, pale to light purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Shorter stamens: anthers 5–8 mm. long, pedoconnective c. 1 mm. long with a very short 2-lobed appendage at the base; filaments 6 mm. long. Longer stamens of dissotidoides forms: anthers 7–8 mm. long, pedoconnective 5·5–8·5 mm. long with 2-lobate, 1–2 mm. long appendage at base; filaments c. 8 mm. long. Stamens of osbeckioides forms subequal, those opposite to the sepals with the pedoconnective slightly longer.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fructiferous receptacle 8–9 x 5–7 mm., ovoid to urceolate. Capsule shorter than the receptacle, setose at the apex on the valve-margins and with a ring of strong bristles around the style-insertion.

Melastomataceae, G. E. Wickens. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1975

Morphology General Habit

Woody perennial herb 0.3–2 m. high; branchlets hispid-pilose to scabrid.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves subsessile; lamina linear-lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate or oblong-ovate, 1.5–9.5(–11.5) cm. long, 0.5–3 cm. wide, apex acute, base subcuneate, margin slightly serrate and appressed setose, long setose-pilose on both surfaces; midrib and 1–2 pairs of basal longitudinal nerves impressed above, slightly raised beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of dense paniculate clusters; flowers 4–5-merous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube (fig. 10/1, 2, p. 31) ovoid-urceolate, 6 mm. long, 4 mm. in diameter, covered with stellate-setose linear or obtriangular capitate appendages, setae sometimes very dense and obscuring the flower; lobes caducous, narrowly triangular, 5 mm. long, margin shortly ciliate, apex with a single stellate-setose scale, otherwise glabrous; intersepalar appendages resembling those of the calyx-tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals pinkish to purple, oblong-obovoid, 10–15 mm. long, 8–13 mm. wide, apex truncate or rounded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8 or 10, markedly unequal or subequal in “ osbeckioid ” forms; large stamens with anthers 7–8 mm. long, free part of connective arcuate, 8.5 mm. long, bilobed appendage 2 mm. long, filament 8 mm. long; short stamens (including all of “ osbeckioid ” forms) with anthers 5–8 mm. long, connective produced 0.5–0.8 mm., bituberculate appendage 0.5 mm. long, filament 6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary with an apical tuft of setae, concealed by the calyx-tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruiting calyx enlarging, mainly by an elongation of the neck, to 7–10 mm. long, 4.5 mm. in diameter; capsule not exserted.