Chenopodiaceae (part: Chenopodium)
Author
Brenan, J. P. M
text
Flora of Tropical East Africa
1954
12
2
14
http://antbase.org/ants/publications/FlEast_africa_Chenop/FlEast_africa_Chenop.pdf
journal article
FlEast_africa_Chenop
var. muraliforme
Aellen
in F.R. 24: 344 (1928).
Type: Kenya, Mfc. Kenya, 2550 m" westward to the Kasorongai R., 1950 m., Meams 1814 (US, holo.!)
Leaves acute at apex. Teeth (on well-developed leaves) comparatively few, generally 7-20 (-25) on each margin,acute, mostly coarse, little teeth few.
Kenya. Nakuru District: Elburgon, Sept. 1933, Napier 2843 in
Oe
.M. 5252!; Kiambu District: Limxiru, Dec. 1927, Lyne Watt 1189!; Kericho District: Lumbwa, July 1934,Napier 3406 in CM. 6640!
Distb. K3, 4, 5; not known elsewhere. May occur in K6 on the Mau; confirmation wanted
Hab. (of species as whole). Insufficiently known; recorded from upland evergreen forest, by roadsides, and as a weed in cultivated areas and waste places; 1310-2440 m.
This very interesting species, known outside our area only from Ethiopia, is related to
C. murale
, whose leaves are often more cuneate at base than in
C, fasciculosum
and with different toothing. The seeds of
C. murale
are, however, very different, smaller, sharply keeled, with a persistent pericarp and rounded not elongate-branched pits on the surface of the testa. This is a good example of a frequent occurrence among goosefeet: where constant seed-diiferences reinforce vegetative differences which though clear are hard to convey in words.
Aellen in his original description of
C. fasciculosum
gives the range in size of seed as 1.25-2 mm.; I have not seen ripe seeds less than 1.5 mm.