Parapodium costatum E.Mey.

Species

Angiosperms > Gentianales > Apocynaceae > Parapodium

Characteristics

Perennial, geophytic herb, 0.2-0.3 m high. Leaves erect, ± parallel to stem; linear to oblong, 62-142 x 6-22 mm; midrib and secondary veins prominent below; petioles up to 27 mm long, curving 90°. Inflorescences umbelliform, axillary, 5-9-flowered. Corolla globose-campanulate, fused at base, purple-brown, to greenish yellow; tube ± 3.5 mm long; lobes oblong-lanceolate, 6.5-9.0 x 3.5-4.0 mm. Corona white; interstaminal corona fused to corolla tube up to sinuses, forming a pentagonal cup housing rest of conical gynostegial column; staminal corona fused to corolla tube, rudimentary between interstaminal lobes. Anthers: wings small; appendages ovate, ± 2.2 mm long. Follicles on twisted pedicels, ellipsoid, 104 x 28 mm, glabrous, with rows of prominent dentate protrusions.
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A stout, erect herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 35 m tall. It grows from a thickened rootstock. The stems are simple and unbranched. They are airy towards the top. The leaves are simple and opposite. They are oblong or sword shaped and thick and hairy on the upper surface. The edges can be slightly wavy. The flowers are in groups or 3-7 on side stalks. The flowers are 10-15 mm long and bell shaped and yellowish-green. The fruit is a follicle with a few lumps.
Perennial herb, 80-300 mm high. Leaves with blade narrowly ovate or oblong, flat or margins very slightly undulate. Flowers: style apex exserted beyond anther appendages; corona white; corolla dull purple-brown or violaceous outside, dull green within; Oct.-Jan. Fruit a follicle.
Herb, 80-300 mm tall. Leaves lanceolate or oblong, flat or very slightly undulate. Style apex exserted beyond anther appendages. Flowers dull purple-brown or violaceous outside, dull green within, corona white.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention -
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 0.14 - 0.3
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

It is a subtropical crop.
Light -
Soil humidity 1-3
Soil texture 5-6
Soil acidity -
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-12

Usage

The leaves are cooked as a spinach.
Uses medicinal potherb
Edible leaves
Therapeutic use Potherb (unspecified)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Mode -
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Distribution

Parapodium costatum world distribution map, present in Botswana, Lesotho, and South Africa

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:100273-1
WFO ID wfo-0001102323
COL ID 4D9F6
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN)
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Rhombonema luridum Metastelma costatum Parapodium costatum