Amphiglossa corrudaefolia

Amphiglossa corrudaefolia is a species of plant from South Africa.

Amphiglossa corrudaefolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Amphiglossa
Species:
A. corrudaefolia
Binomial name
Amphiglossa corrudaefolia
DC.

Description

Growth form

This erect, rhizomatous shrub grows up to 0.4 m (1.3 ft) tall. Roots grow from trailing branches and many short shoots.[1] The branches are rigid and have a diameter of up to 4 mm (0.16 in). Secondary branches develop on the leaf axils on the main stem and have a diameter of up to 2 mm (0.079 in). Brachyblasts (shoots) grow in the leaf axils of the secondary banches. These typically grow up to 5 mm (0.20 in) long and secondary brachyblasts are rare. They are white when young.[2]

Leaves

The triangular leaves grow closely against the branches and are woolly on the upper surface.[1] They are bright green and are slightly inrolled. The leaves growing on the secondary branches are about half the size of those growing on the main stems.[2]

Flowers

The white radiate flowers are present between January and April. They have four or five ray florets and a eual number of disc florets.[2][3] Only one flower head is found at the tip of a branch.[3] They grow on short shoots.[2] The outermost of the surrounding bracts are green around the midrib and translucent towards the tips.[2][3] The innermost bracts are the largest at about twice the length of the outermost bracts and have rough hairs along the margins. The upper half is transparent.[2]

The ray florets are white in colour and are female. The tips have between one and three lobes.[2]

The disc florets are white and bisexual. They are often tinged pink below the lobes. There are five lobes and these are often asymmetrical.

Fruit and seeds

The fruits a-re cypselas. They are about 1 mm (0.039 in), greyish and inconspicuously ribbed. They develop in three to five of the florets, most commonly in the ray florets. They have 18-25 pappus bristles.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This species in endemic to South Africa. It grows at Loeriesfontein in the Northern Cape and Prince Albert in the Western Cape.[4] It prefers growing in sandy riverbeds.[3]

Ecology

Older plants become well anchored in the soil. The rhizomes produce many shoots if they get covered by sand when the river that they are growing at floods.[2]

Conservation

Amphiglossa corrudeafolia is classified as vulnerable by the South African National Biodiversity Institute as it is potentially threatened by seasonal flash floods.

References
  1. e-Flora of South Africa. v1.36. 2022. South African National Biodiversity Institute. http://ipt.sanbi.org.za/iptsanbi/resource?r=flora_descriptions&v=1.36
  2. Koekemoer, M. (1999-09-30). "The genus Amphiglossa (Gnaphalieae, Relhaniinae, Asteraceae) in southern Africa". Bothalia. 29 (1): 65–75. doi:10.4102/abc.v29i1.572. ISSN 2311-9284.
  3. Snijman, D.A. (2013). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Regionn, Vol. 2: the Extra Cape flora (PDF). Strelitzia. John Manning, Peter Goldblatt. Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute. ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC 866860203.
  4. Koekemoer, M. & Victor, J.E. 2005. Amphiglossa corrudifolia DC. National Assessment: Red List of South African Plants version 2020.1. Accessed on 25 February 2023
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