Pogonospermum ciliatum (Jacq.) I.Darbysh. & Kiel

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

Flora Zambesiaca Acanthaceae (part 2) by Iain Darbyshire, Kaj Vollesen and Ensermu Kelbessa

Morphology General Habit

Erect to decumbent often much-branched annual herb; stems to 40 cm long, sparsely to densely pubescent or pilose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sparsely to densely pubescent or pilose on veins and margins; petiole to 8 mm long; lamina linear-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, largest 5–9 × 0.5–1 cm, at least 5 times longer than wide; apex subacute to rounded; base cuneate to attenuate, not decurrent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary in axils, upwards usually congested into terminal pseudo-racemes, sometimes with short lateral branches; bracts foliaceous, as leaves or slightly smaller, distinctly white-ciliate in basal part with ciliae (1.5)2–4 mm long; bracteoles linear or linear-lanceolate, (1)1.2–2 cm long, with similar ciliae.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 8–13 mm long, with similar ciliae; lobes linear, acuminate, with a single broad central vein and with broad hyaline white margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla lower lip white with purple to mauve lines, upper lip white to pale green with brownish veins, 7–8 mm long, shorter than calyx, sparsely sericeous; tube 3–4 mm long with a conspicuous central pouch and 2 smaller lateral pouches; upper lip c.4 mm long, hooded; lower lip c.5 mm long, broadly obovate, lobes c.2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filaments c.2.5 mm long; anthers hairy, thecae superposed, upper smaller and held at angle to lower, c.0.5 (upper) and 1 (lower) mm long, lower with bifurcate appendage c.1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 9–11 mm long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds black, 3–3.5 × 4.5–5 mm, with two large tufts of thick moniliform hairs.

Distribution

Also in Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, D.R. Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania.

Ecology

Grassland on black clay soils; 750–1200 m.

Conservation

Conservation notes: Widespread, especially outside the Flora area; not threatened.