Lysimachia ruhmeriana Vatke

Primulaceae, F. K. Kupicha. Flora Zambesiaca 7:1. 1983

Morphology General Habit

Robust perennial herb up to 1 m. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems erect or decumbent, terete, reddish, leafy.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves up to 6 x 1·5 cm. (in F.Z. area), broadly to narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, ± epetiolate, often shortly acuminate at the apex, cuneate, obtuse or cordate at the base; lamina surfaces and margin almost always dotted with irregular blackish glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes up to 30 cm. long, spicate, lax or congested, terminal and axillary.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels up to 5 mm. long (in fruit), each subtended by a bract 2–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers covered with short–stalked glands on all parts, especially on inner surface of calyx and corolla and on stamens.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx divided almost to the base; lobes c. 2·5 mm. long, oblong–elliptic.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla c. 3·8 mm. long, campanulate, white, pink or mauve; lobes equalling or slightly longer than calyx, elliptic.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens c. 2 mm. long, inserted in a ring below the corolla lobes; connective produced above the anther into a fleshy apiculus.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary c. 1 mm. long, globose, with style c. 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule 3–4(5) mm. in diameter, globose, dehiscing by 5 valves, these remaining erect, not recurving.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 0·8–1 mm. long, ± tetrahedral, blackish, smooth or minutely granular.

Primulaceae, P. Taylor. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1958

Morphology General Habit

Rootstock short and woody, with very numerous wiry roots.

Morphology Stem

Stems erect or decumbent, few to very many, up to 1 m. high, terete, usually strongly tinged with red below.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate or subopposite, varying from broadly elliptic to lanceolate, acute, basally cuneate, obtuse or auriculate, green above, glaucous beneath, with numerous irregular-shaped punctate blackish glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in congested or lax terminal racemes from 1 to 50 cm. in length; pedicels 1–3 (–5) cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-lobes oblong, 2–3 mm. long at anthesis, 3–4 mm. long in fruit; apex obtuse, acute or rarely acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla subcampanulate, white or pink, about equal to or slightly longer than the calyx.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule globose, 3–4 mm. in diameter; style persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous, 3–angled, about 1 mm. long.

Figures

Fig. 2, p. 6.

Habitat

Riversides, marshes, ditches and damp places generally; 960–3450 m.

Distribution

from Ethiopia southwards to Natal and Madagascar, also in the Cameroons. K1 K3 K4 K5 K6 T1 T2 T3 T7 T8 U2 U3 U4

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