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A new species of Spermacoce (Rubiaceae) from the Manika high plateau (Katanga; R. D. Congo)
Author(s) -
Dessein S.,
Jansen S.,
Robbrecht E.,
Smets E.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
nordic journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.333
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1756-1051
pISSN - 0107-055X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1756-1051.2002.tb01909.x
Subject(s) - biology , rubiaceae , inflorescence , botany , habit , pollen , taproot , plateau (mathematics) , lobata , taxonomy (biology) , medicine , psychology , mathematical analysis , alternative medicine , mathematics , pathology , pueraria , psychotherapist
Spermacoce manikensis , a new species from Katanga (R. D. Congo) is described and illustrated. Special attention is given to anatomy of the primary root and pollen and seed morphology. The species is mainly characterised by the geoxylic habit, large flowers arranged in two‐or three‐flowered inflorescences, and seeds with a basal elaiosome. It is closely related to Spermacoce stipularis , from which it differs in its more robust taproot and habit, longer leaves, larger fruits, and 10–13(‐14)‐ aperturate pollen grains. The species is found on the Kalahari sands of the Manika high plateau in suffrutex grassland.