Growing near Emerald, Queensland, Australia. Suspected Amaranthaceae. Herbaceous, maximum height 1.5 metres; leaves glabrous, alternate; inflorescence slender, spike-like; all flowers bisexual, glabrous, in contracted dichasial cymes. Capsule indehiscent, same length as perianth; fertile stamens 5; stigmas 2; ovules 2; seeds solitary, black. Growing on heavy clay soil.
I am sure that this plant is not Polygonum and not Persicaria. Considering lack of ochrea, probably, is nor a member of the Polygonaceae family. I think this plant can be a member of the genus Hermbstaedtia, which is native to South Africa. You should also check related genera of the Amaranthaceae s. str. family.
Dear Tony,
it looks a bit like a Polygonum persicaria
Cheers,
Stephan
http://www.plantsystematics.org/imgs/kcn2/r/Polygonaceae_Polygonum_persicaria_15444.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonaceae
Yes, Stephan. Certainly looks like a Polygonum, but I am struck by the lack of an ochrea (which should be apparent on P. persicaria).
I am sure that this plant is not Polygonum and not Persicaria. Considering lack of ochrea, probably, is nor a member of the Polygonaceae family. I think this plant can be a member of the genus Hermbstaedtia, which is native to South Africa. You should also check related genera of the Amaranthaceae s. str. family.
The inflorescence is the same as in Polygonaceae,
just check the list of species, it is actually very near to be Polygonum not persicaria.
No, it is definitely neither a Polygonum s. lat., nor a member of the Polygonaceae family. There is no ochrea, whose presence is the prinicpal character. I am almost sure that this did not come to Australia from Europe.
Yes, I agree with Danihelka view. It is not a Polygonaceae member. It looks like Deeringia amaranthoides (Lam.) Merr. (Amaranthaceae).
Structure of flowers of Deerlingia species is quite different from those seen on the prhotographs. I doubt that this plant is Deeringia amaranthoides.
The closest species my colleagues and I can come up with is Celosia elegantissima from central Africa. Our material is not a perfect match for the descriptions available in various floras, revisions and on the web. Our material consistently has 2 ovules in each flower, and the seeds are about 1.8mm long.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who knows C. elegantissima, and whether they think these photos could represent that species.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Botany
- Plant Biology