Eschenbachia subscaposa (O.Hoffm.) G.L.Nesom

Compositae, C. D. Adams. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

A perennial herb

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

A basal rosette of stiff leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

A weak flowering shoot from a few inches to 1 ft. high; florets dull yellow

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Involucral bracts often purplish

Ecology

In montane grassland.

Compositae, H. Beentje, C. Jeffrey & D.J.N. Hind. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Subscapose herb from perennial rootstock, with basal rosette of leaves and a single (or rarely 2–3) stem(s) with 1–3 or without cauline leaves, 8–60 cm high; stems reddish-purple, occasionally with a branch, pilose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves of rosette shiny, sometimes with reddish midrib, sessile, (narrowly) obovate to slightly spatulate, 3–26 cm long, 0.8–5 cm wide, base gradually narrowing but the very base semi-amplexicaul, margins ciliate and in the distal half of the leaf serrate or dentate with callose teeth, apex obtuse and mucronate, scabrid or more often glabrous except for the margins; cauline leaves usually smaller, with the base less narrowed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula 7–12 mm long, several together in dense cymes or rarely solitary and terminal, cymes terminal or few together in sparse terminal leafy corymbs; stalks of individual capitula 2–6 mm long, densely pubescent to hispid; phyllaries green, sometimes red-tipped, 2–3-seriate, the outermost smallest, 3–8 mm long, 1–2.5 mm wide, margins scarious, apex acute, sparsely pubescent; receptacle convex to toroid, toothed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets

Florets pale yellow; marginal florets many, tube 2–3 mm long, minutely dentate distally, style 4.2–5.7 mm long; central florets > 20, tube 3.2–4 mm long, lobes 0.5–0.8 mm long; anthers 1.2–1.3 mm long with triangular appendages; style 4.5–5.4 mm long, with short papillose flattened triangular branches.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes obovoid, slightly compressed, 1.5–2 mm long, sparsely pilose; pappus of white setae 4.5–7 mm long.

Figures

Fig. 106 (page 511).

Habitat

Upland and afro-alpine grassland, usually in rocky sites, also in heathland, possibly associated with regular fires; 1200–4400 m (dwarfed above 3500 m)

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T2 T3 T4 T6 T7 U1 U2