Vernoniastrum latifolium (Steetz) H.Rob.

Compositae, G. V. Pope. Flora Zambesiaca 6:1. 1992

Morphology General Habit

An erect slender to divaricately branched, sometimes robust, annual herb 10–120 cm. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems simple, or more usually laxly much-branched, sometimes branching from near the base, leafy, ribbed, patent-pilose below and somewhat appressed pubescent above; branches spreading-ascending, up to c. 45 cm. long, pilose-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves subsessile, up to c. 14 x 2.3 cm., linear-oblong to narrowly elliptic or narrowly oblong-oblanceolate; apex acute to obtuse; base abruptly rounded to subtruncate, or cuneate and ± attenuate; margins subentire to subserrate; lamina ± sparsely pilose on both surfaces, more densely pilose on midrib and nerves beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula numerous, in dense 2–7-capitulate clusters, or more laxly arranged with 1–3 capitula on long stalks at the ends of branches; stalks 0.2–7 cm. long, pubescent or tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Involucre

Involucres 5–9 x 8–18 mm., broadly campanulate, becoming ± shallowly cup-shaped with a broad truncate base when mature, densely white sericeous-lanate below.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Phyllaries

Phyllaries numerous, ± densely white-sericeous outside, long ciliate on the margins, the apices acute to gradually tapering and dark-tipped, ± recurved at least in the outer phyllaries, lamina obscurely longitudinally ribbed, the hairs short-stalked with an appressed elongate terminal cell; the outer phyllaries from c. 2 mm. long, subulate to linear-lanceolate, the inner series longer and narrowly lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle alveolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla purple, 6–7 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes 1.5–2.5 mm. long, narrowly angular-turbinate, 4–5-ribbed, setulose, especially on ribs, gland-pitted and rugulose on the faces; outer pappus of brownish or sordid, short narrow scales; inner pappus of numerous sordid or brownish barbellate setae 4–5 mm. long.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb 20–80 cm tall, erect with spreading branches; stems pubescent with ascending and coarse spreading simple hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile, oblanceolate-oblong to narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, 3–10.5 cm long, 0.4–2.2 cm wide, base cuneate-attenuate, remotely apiculate-serrulate, apex obtuse to acute, apiculate, coarsely scattered-pubescent above, more finely so especially on veins beneath, glandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Capitulum

Capitula 2–several in lax scorpioid cymes; involucre globose, 5–10 mm long; phyllaries 3–4-seriate, lanceolate, 4–8.5 mm long, attenuate to acute, pale green with reflexed purplish tips, densely tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Corolla reddish purple or pinkish purple, 5–6.5 mm long, lobes 2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Achenes 2–2.2 mm long, 4–5-angled, rugose, ascending-pubescent on the angles; outer pappus 0.5–1 mm long, inner pappus 4–5 mm long, stramineous.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland, in open places and clearings; 200–1000 m

Distribution

T1 T6 T7 T8