Amphiglossa corrudaefolia
| Amphiglossa corrudaefolia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Amphiglossa |
| Species: | A. corrudaefolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Amphiglossa corrudaefolia | |
Amphiglossa corrudaefolia is a species of plant from South Africa.
Description
[edit]Growth form
[edit]This erect, rhizomatous shrub grows up to 0.4 m (1.3 ft) tall. Roots grow from trailing branches and many short shoots.[1] The branches are rigid and have a diameter of up to 4 mm (0.16 in). Secondary branches develop on the leaf axils on the main stem and have a diameter of up to 2 mm (0.079 in). Brachyblasts (shoots) grow in the leaf axils of the secondary branches. These typically grow up to 5 mm (0.20 in) long and secondary brachyblasts are rare. They are white when young.[2]
Leaves
[edit]The triangular leaves grow closely against the branches and are woolly on the upper surface.[1] They are bright green and are slightly inrolled. The leaves growing on the secondary branches are about half the size of those growing on the main stems.[2]
Flowers
[edit]The white radiate flowers are present between January and April. They have four or five ray florets and a eual number of disc florets.[2][3] Only one flower head is found at the tip of a branch.[3] They grow on short shoots.[2] The outermost of the surrounding bracts are green around the midrib and translucent towards the tips.[2][3] The innermost bracts are the largest at about twice the length of the outermost bracts and have rough hairs along the margins. The upper half is transparent.[2]
The ray florets are white in colour and are female. The tips have between one and three lobes.[2]
The disc florets are white and bisexual. They are often tinged pink below the lobes. There are five lobes and these are often asymmetrical.
Fruit and seeds
[edit]The fruits a-re cypselas. They are about 1 mm (0.039 in), greyish and inconspicuously ribbed. They develop in three to five of the florets, most commonly in the ray florets. They have 18-25 pappus bristles.[2]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]This species in endemic to South Africa. It grows at Loeriesfontein in the Northern Cape and Prince Albert in the Western Cape.[4] It prefers growing in sandy riverbeds.[3]
Ecology
[edit]Older plants become well anchored in the soil. The rhizomes produce many shoots if they get covered by sand when the river that they are growing at floods.[2]
Conservation
[edit]Amphiglossa corrudeafolia is classified as vulnerable by the South African National Biodiversity Institute as it is potentially threatened by seasonal flash floods.
References
[edit]- ^ a b e-Flora of South Africa. v1.36. 2022. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://ipt.sanbi.org.za/iptsanbi/resource?r=flora_descriptions&v=1.36
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Koekemoer, M. (1999-09-30). "The genus Amphiglossa (Gnaphalieae, Relhaniinae, Asteraceae) in southern Africa". Bothalia. 29 (1): 65–75. doi:10.4102/abc.v29i1.572. ISSN 2311-9284.
- ^ a b c d Snijman, D.A. (2013). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Regionn, Vol. 2: the Extra Cape flora (PDF). Strelitzia. John Manning, Peter Goldblatt. Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute. ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC 866860203.
- ^ Koekemoer, M. & Victor, J.E. 2005. Amphiglossa corrudifolia DC. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 25 February 2023