Basella paniculata Volkens

Basellaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

Glabrous subsucculent twiner, often almost leafless; stems rather thick, furrowed, rough, pale brown.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blade ovate, 1.8–3.5 cm. long, 1–2.5 cm. wide, acute, truncate to cuneate at the base; petiole 2–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small, greenish or white, in spikes, with the spikes arranged in much branched rather dense panicles up to 8 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth 5-lobed almost to the base, opening completely; lobes oval or suborbicular, 2–2.5 mm. long, 2 mm. wide, rounded at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits globose, 3.5–4 mm. in diameter, pale brown (red in vivo ?), shining, with 6 prominent longitudinal ribs; receptacles swollen and fleshy.

Figures

Fig. 1/11, p. 3.

Habitat

Dry evergreen bushland and dry evergreen forest, often at the edges, on sandy loam or rocky ground; 60–1350 m.

Distribution

K7 T3

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

Morphology General Habit

Twining vine

Morphology Stem

Stem glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaf blades 2 - 4.5 x 1 - 3.5 cm, ovate to broadly elliptic, at base cuneate to rounded, at apex acute to acuminate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 1 - 8 cm long, branched, sometimes much so, with rather stout axis becoming much thickened in fruit; infructescence axes forming fleshy, reddish receptacles surrounding the fruit base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles well developed, ovate to triangular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers not sunken into rachis at anthesis, chasmogamous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 2 - 2.5 x 2 - 2.5 mm, shorter than petals, ± patent at anthesis, broadly ovate to rounded, ± free, at anthesis greenish

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 2.5 - 3.5 x 1.5 - 2 mm, ± patent at anthesis, elliptic to somewhat obovate, only connate at base, at anthesis greenish

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers pale

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 3-lobed; styles 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 3.5 - 5 mm in diam., tightly enclosed by membranous, eventually disappearing perianth.

Type

A neotype is here designated for Basella paniculata, since the only original material (Tanzania, Pare, Kihurio, 9 Oct. 1902, Engler 1515) was destroyed at B during World War II. Kenya, Kwale Distr., Kilibasi Hill, 500 m, 17 Nov. 1989, Luke & Robertson 2019 (neotype K!, designated here).

Ecology

Occurs in dry scrubs and forests

Distribution

In southern Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and northeastern South Africa at rather low altitudes.

Note

Basella paniculata is easily recognised by its branched inflorescences with sessile flowers that have almost free petals. The inflorescence axes become much thickened in fruit, forming fleshy, reddish receptacles that stupport the exposed, shiny fruits. This species is dexiating in the family, and further studies may show that it should be placed in a new, monotypic genus. It obviously shares some supposedly derived features with the other Basella species, but also with Anredera (e.g. recurved filaments in bud), Tournonia (e.g. greenish perianth), and Ullucus (e.g. poly aperturate pollen).

Basellaceae, B. L. Stannard. Flora Zambesiaca 9:1. 1988

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climber.

Morphology Stem

Stems branched, often sparsely leaved.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves: lamina 2–4.5 × 1.5–3.5 cm., elliptic to circular, acute to shortly acuminate, rounded to cuneate at the base, entire; petioles: 5–7 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, fleshy panicles of spikes, 1.5–4 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 2–3 mm. long, greenish white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles 2, c. 2 × 2 mm., united at base, broadly ovate to circular, appressed to perianth.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Perianth deeply divided, often almost to base; lobes 1.25–2.5 × 0.75–1.5 mm., ovate to subcircular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 1.5–2.5 mm. long, inserted level with base of lobes on slightly thickened ring.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary ovoid, style with 3 linear stigmas.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit globose, 3–5 mm. diam., with longitudinal ridges; receptacles fleshy, enlarged.