Basellaceae
Basella

Basella leandriana H.Perrier

First published in Notul. Syst. (Paris) 14: 54 (1950)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Madagascar. It is a climbing subshrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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: threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Eriksson, R. (2007). A Synopsis of Basellaceae. Kew Bulletin, 62(2), 297-320. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20443356

Type
Madagascar, Fort Dauphin, April, Scott Elliot 2475 (lectotype K, designated here, photo GB!).
Morphology General Habit
Scandent vine
Morphology Stem
Stem glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaf blades 3 - 9 x 1 - 4.5 cm, ovate to elliptic or lanceolate, at base attenuate to cuneate, at apex acute to acuminate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences up to 8 cm long, unbranched or sparingly branched, with stout axis becoming much thickened in fruit
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracteoles minute or absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers sunken into rachis, probably cleistogamous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 4 - 5 x 1.5 - 3.5 mm, equalling petals in length, ± erect, elliptic to broadly ovate, ± free from each other, at anthesis white
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 4 - 5 x 1.5 - 2.5 mm, ± erect, elliptic, connate 1/3 - 2/3 of their length, at anthesis white
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers yellowish to orangish
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style 1, 3-parted almost to the base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit c. 4 x 3 mm, tightly enclosed by persistent, thin and dry, usually eventually disappearing perianth.
Note
Among the syntypes on which Perrier de la Bathie (1950a) based his description of Basella leandriana, the specimen collected by Scott Elliot is here designated as lectotype.
Distribution
Known only from a few localities in central, eastern, and southern Madagascar
Ecology
Found at rather low altitudes.
[KBu]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Bulletin

    • Kew Bulletin
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0