Inversodicraea tenax (C.H.Wright) Engl. ex R.E.Fr.

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Photo: Mike Kennedy
Lufuba (FEOW: Bangweulu-Mweru)

Photo: Bart Wursten
Just above Victoria Falls, Livingstone

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Synonyms:	Dicraeia tenax C.H. Wright Ledermanniella tenax (C.H.Wright) C.Cusset
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Much branched, perennial herb, with slightly fleshy stems, up to 20 cm long; thalloid part ribbon-like, c. 1 mm wide. Leaves mostly scale-like, scattered on stem, densely overlapping on fertile branches, 3-toothed, 0.8–1.5 mm long; scale leaves just below spathella longer and narrower than those on stem. Larger leaves filiform, 2-3 times divided into filiform segments, 3–5 cm long. Flowers 1–several on very short uppermost branches, and 1–2 axillary to branches, subtended by dichotomously branched bracts and bracteoles 1.5–2 mm long, with filiform segments; spathellas ellipsoid to obovoid; pedicel elongating to 8 mm after flowering. Tepals 2, filiform, 0.5 mm long. Stamens with filaments 1.5 mm long, connate for half their length, anthers 1.5 mm long. Ovary ellipsoid, 2 mm long. Fruit an ellipsoid capsule, 1.7–2.5 mm long, 8-ribbed.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	tenax: tenacious, strong
Habitat:	Mat-forming on rocks in fast-flowing water, near water-level with the flowering stems emerging.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, DRC, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe Botswana and Caprivi-Nambibia.
Botswana distribution:	N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 3 July 2022
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 36. As Ledermanniella sp. Cusset, C. (1997). Podostemaceae Flora Zambesiaca 9(2) Pages 3 - 4. As Ledermanniella tenax (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 67. As Ledermanniella tenax Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 92. As Ledermanniella tenax

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Flora of Caprivi: Inversodicraea tenax
Flora of Zambia: Inversodicraea tenax
Flora of Zimbabwe: Inversodicraea tenax

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Inversodicraea tenax
African Plant Database: Inversodicraea tenax
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Inversodicraea tenax
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Inversodicraea tenax
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Inversodicraea tenax
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iNaturalist: Inversodicraea tenax
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Inversodicraea tenax
JSTOR Plant Science: Inversodicraea tenax
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Inversodicraea tenax
Plants of the World Online: Inversodicraea tenax
Tropicos: Inversodicraea tenax
Wikipedia: Inversodicraea tenax