| Home | > | List of families | > | Melastomataceae | > | Dissotis | > | denticulata |
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
A shrub up to 2–5 m. high or a perennial herb. Branches 2–3-nate, bluntly 6-gonous or terete, ± densely and patently setose (the bristles whitish to rusty, usually long, pectinate-branched from a bulbous base) towards the apex, the oldest scabrous. Leaves 2–3-nate; lamina 2·3–11·5 x 1·8–5 cm., ovate-lanceolate or ovate, cordate at base (those of the flowering branches the smallest and most deeply cordate), subacute at the apex, conspicuously denticulate at the margin, discolorous, dark or brownish-green above and whitish or pale-green below (the old leaves often turning bright red), rather thick, rough on the upper face with subconic prominences each ending in a simple white rather long bristle, densely covered on the under side by long thin silvery hairs, longitudinally 5–7-nerved, the longitudinal nerves impressed above, raised and appressed-scaly-setose beneath (the scales with a thick laterally dentate-setose base ending in a long bristle); petiole 0·2–2·5 mm. long, scaly-setose. Flowers 5-merous, subsessile in short compact t^nninal panicles; bracts up to 9x8 mm., subcircular, obtuse, caducous. Receptacle 8–10 x 6–7 mm., cylindric, densely setose (bristles simple or divided from the base) and with many ± patent linear appendages up to 2·5 mm. long, ending in a small stellate-setose disk (the bristles of the terminal disks ascending, numerous up to 2·5 mm. long, rather stout, whitish); intersepalar segments like the uppermost receptacle-appendages but longer. Sepals c. 9 x 5 mm., oblong, obliquely truncate dorsally minutely appressed-setose and with a stellate-setose appendage at the apex, caducous. Petals c. 2·8 x 2 cm., purple or rose. Longer stamens: anthers 10–13 mm. long; pedoconnective c. 15 mm. long with the basal appendage c. 1 mm. long; filaments 7–8 mm. long. Shorter stamens: anthers 8–12 mm. Long; pedoconnective c. 3 mm. long with the basal appendage 0·5 mm. long; filaments c. 10 mm. long. Fructiferous receptacle up to 11 x 10 mm., broadly cylindric or subspherical. Capsule ovoid, ± equalling the receptacle, appressed-setose on the upper half. From FZ, Vol 4, Part 0, page 220, (1978) Author: R. and A. Fernandes |
| Type location: |
Zambia |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | |
| Habitat: | In swampy grasslands, forests and river banks |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Zambia, DRC and Tanzania |
| National distribution: | N,C |
| Zambian distribution (Provinces): | Lp,N,C |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | Near Endemic |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | Pseudargynnis hegemone (Larval foodplant) |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Tuesday 22 August 2017 |
| Literature: |
Fernandes, R. & A. (1961). Contribution to the knowledge of the MELASTOMATOIDEAE of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Kirkia 1 Page 76. Fernandes, R. & A. (1978). Melastomataceae Flora Zambesiaca 4 Pages 265 - 267. (Includes a picture). |
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