Crepidorhopalon rupestris (Engl.) Eb.Fisch.

Scrophulariaceae, S.A. Ghazanfar, F.N. Hepper & D. Philcox. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2008

Type

Type: Tanzania, Njombe District: Livingstone Mt, Goetze 811 (B†, holo.). Neotype: Tanzania, Rungwe District: Kyimbila, N of Lake Nyassa, Stolz 791 (K!, chosen here)

Morphology General Habit

Erect to spreading annual, (3–)6–14(–18) cm tall, simple or branched.

Morphology Stem

Stems leafy below or towards base, quadrangular, minutely glandular to subglabrous; branches opposite or less frequently alternate

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile, or lowermost with short, petiole-like base, broadly ovate to elliptic-oblong, 8–18(–25) mm long, 3.5–13(–18) mm wide, rounded at base or lowermost subcuneate, apex obtuse or rounded, margins shortly dentate or lower subentire, sparsely glandular-pubescent to subglabrous, palmately 5-veined, veins  ± prominent beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in lax, terminal or lateral leafless racemes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts similar to leaves but smaller, becoming more so above, each member of pair of different size with smaller subtending flower.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 0.5–3 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–5 mm long, minutely glandular-pubescent; lobes narrowly linear, 3–4 mm long, acuminate, widely spreading

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow, orange-yellow or white, up to 7(–10) mm long, upper lip oblong-ovate, lobes of lower lip with large, yellow clavate hairs ± 0.15 mm long at throat, rounded

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, all fertile; anterior filaments 4–7 mm long with papillose appendage ± 1 mm long present at base, clavate at base, antero-lateral ridge not evident

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule (2.5–)3–4 mm long, 3–4 mm broad, globose or globose-obovoid, shorter than calyx, glabrous.

Ecology

Open grassland and Brachystegia and Julbernardia and other woodlands, on wet sandy and stony or peaty soils; 1000–1750 m

Conservation

Least Concern (LC)

Distribution

Range: Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe Flora districts: U3 U4 K5 T1 T3 T4 T7 T8

Scrophulariaceae, D. Philcox. Flora Zambesiaca 8:2. 1990

Morphology General Habit

Erect to spreading annual, (3)6–14(18) cm. tall, simple or branched; stems leafy below or towards base, quadrangular, minutely glandular to subglabrous; branches opposite or less frequently alternate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, sessile, or lowermost with short petiole-like base, 8–18(25) x 3.5–13(18) mm., broadly ovate or elliptic-oblong, obtuse or rounded, rounded at base or lowermost subcuneate, shortly dentate or lower subentire, sparsely glandular-pubescent to subglabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in lax, terminal or lateral leafless racemes, pedicellate, bracteate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts similar to leaves but smaller, becoming more so above, each member of pair of different size with smaller subtending flower.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 0.5–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–5 mm. long, minutely glandular-pubescent; lobes 3–4 mm. long, narrowly linear, acuminate widely spreading.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow, orange-yellow or white, upper lip also recorded as purple [King 300]; upper lip oblong-ovate, lobes of lower lip with large, yellow clavate hairs c. 0.15 mm. long at throat, rounded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Anterior filaments 4–7 mm. long with papillose appendage c. 1 mm. long produced at base, antero-lateral ridge not evident.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule (2.5)3–4 x 3–4 mm., globose or globose-obovoid, shorter than calyx, glabrous.