| Synonyms: |
Asclepias lepida S.Moore Asclepias modesta N.E. Br. Asclepias modesta var. foliosa N.E.Br Gomphocarpus foliosus K.Schum. Trachycalymma foliosum Goyder Trachycalymma pulchellum Bullock |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Perennial herb with 1–3(5) annual stems arising from one or more subglobose or napiform tubers; stems 0.1–0.4 m long, generally unbranched, erect, pubescent with spreading white hairs. Leaves with petiole to 3 mm long, pubescent; lamina (1.5)4–9(10) × 0.2–1.5 cm, linear to elliptic, glabrous or with indumentum of spreading white hairs on both surfaces. Inflorescences terminal or extra-axillary with 2–4(6) nodding flowers per umbel, peduncles 1–15 cm long, erect, pubescent; pedicels 0.5–2 cm long, pubescent. Calyx lobes 3–5 × 1(2) mm, ovate to lanceolate, acute, pubescent, purple or occasionally green. Corolla campanulate, white, frequently suffused with pale pink or purple but not strongly veined within, sparsely pubescent outside, glabrous within; lobes 7–10(12) × 3–6(7) mm, ovate-oblong, subacute. Corona purple with white margins (green with white margins in west Africa), lobes 2.5–4 mm long, fleshy and adnate to the column to the base of the anther wings, cucullate above and tapering gradually into a rounded spreading tongue half to as long as the staminal column. Fruiting pedicel not contorted; follicle erect, 20–25 × 0.5 cm, narrowly fusiform with a stipe to 17 cm long and an attenuate apex, not inflated, smooth, minutely puberulent. Seeds not seen. |
| Type location: |
DRC |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | foliosa: leafy |
| Habitat: | Brachystegia woodland |
| Altitude range: (metres) | 1100 - 2000 m |
| Flowering time: | Nov - Jan |
| Worldwide distribution: | Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DRC, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, Malawi and Mozambique |
| FZ divisions: | N,C,S |
| Growth form(s): | Perennial. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Binns, B. (1968). A First Check List of the Herbaceous Flora of Malawi The Government Printer, Zomba, Malawi Page 19. as Asclepias modesta and probably also in error as Trachycalymma pulchellum Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 75. as Trachycalymma foliosum Goyder, D.J. (2001). A revision of the tropical African genus Trachycalymma (K. Schum.) Bullock Kew Bulletin 56 Pages 153 - 156. as Trachycalymma foliosa (Includes a picture). Goyder, D.J. (2009). A synopsis of Asclepias (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) in tropical Africa Kew Bulletin 64 Page 384. Goyder, D.J., Gilbert, M.G. & Venter, H.J.T. (2020). Apocynaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 7(2) Pages 271 - 272. |