Home | > | List of families | > | Phyllanthaceae | > | Phyllanthus | > | pentandrus |
Synonyms: |
Phyllanthus deflexus Klotzsch Phyllanthus dilatatus Klotzsch Phyllanthus scoparius Welw. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Delicate, decumbent to erect annual herb, up to 60 cm tall. Stems little branched at first but much-branched in older plants. Leaves linear-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate, up to 4.5 cm long, green above, paler grey green beneath, sometimes pink-tinged, produced on lateral branches up to 20 cm long; stipules and small scale-like leaves, narrowly triangular, c. 1 mm long, often tinged reddish. Flowers in few-flowered bisexual axillary clusters with 1-3 males flowers and 1 female flower per inflorescence, sometimes male flowers in unisexual clusters in the lower axils and female flowers solitary in the upper axils of each branch. Sepals white, cream or greenish-white with a pink midrib; petals absent. Male and female flowers similar but female flowers slightly larger. Fruit 1.2 × 2 mm, depressed subglobose, olive-green. |
Type location: |
Ghana |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | pentandrus: with five stamens. |
Habitat: | In various types of woodland, grassland, rocky areas and disturbed areas, usually on sandy soils. |
Altitude range: | |
Flowering time: | Nov - Mar |
Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical Africa and Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. |
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): | B,N,C,E,S |
Zambian distribution (Provinces): | N,E,S,W |
Growth form(s): | |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Literature: |
Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 29. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 58. Fabian, A. & Germishuizen, G. (1997). Wild Flowers of Northern South Africa. Fernwood Press, Vlaeburg. Pages 222 - 223. (Includes a picture). Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 93. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 42. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 50. Radcliffe-Smith, A. (1996). Euphorbiaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(4) Pages 57 - 58. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 58. |
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