Pentanisia angustifolia explained

Pentanisia angustifolia, also known as narrow-leaved pentanisia,[1] is a species of flower that blooms in the early rains of southern Africa.[2]

Description

This plant has simple, undivided leaves, typical of the family.

Range

Pentanisia angustifolia is found in eastern South Africa, Lesotho, eSwatini,[3] and Mozambique.[1]

Habitat

Up to 800m in Mozambique[1] and higher in the highveld.

Ecology

The flower lives in the herb layer of woodlands.

Etymology

Derived from Greek, "Penta-" (πέντα) means "five" and "-nisia" may come from the word "nisos" (νῆσος), which means "island" or "land." The specific epithet is derived from Latin, "angusti-" coming from "angustus," meaning "narrow" or "tight" and "-folia" coming from "folium," which means "leaf," hence the "narrow-leaved" reference in this flower's common name.

Taxonomy

Synonyms include Diotocarpus angustifolius Hochst. and Pentanisia variabilis Harv. var. glaucescens Cruse ex Sond.[1] The genus Diotocarpus was revised alongside other herbaceous Rubiaceae in 1952, having been considered a taxonomic synonym of Pentanisia.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hyde . M.A. . Pentanisia angustifolia (Hochst.) . Flora of Mozambique . 15 November 2023.
  2. Web site: Smooth Pentanisia (Pentanisia angustifolia) . iNaturalist . 2023-11-13 . en.
  3. Web site: Kew . Pentanisia angustifolia (Hochst.) . Plants of the World . 15 November 2023.
  4. Verdcourt . Bernand . A Revision of Certain African Genera of Rubiaceae I. The Genus Pentanisia (Harvey) . Bulletin du Jardin botanique de l'État a Bruxelles . Dec 1952 . 22 . 233-286 . 10.2307/3666760 . 3666760 . 15 November 2023.