Chenopodium procerum, [Hoechst, ex] Mog.

Brenan, J. P. M, 1954, Chenopodiaceae (part: Chenopodium), Flora of Tropical East Africa 12, pp. 2-14 : 11-12

6. C. procerum [Hoechst, ex] Mog.

in DC., Prodr. 13 (2): 75 (1849); Hauman in F.C.B. 2: 6 (1951).

Types: Ethiopia, Tigré, near Adowa, Schimper 882,1506 (G, syn., K, isosyn.!)

Herb, probably annual, up to 2 m. or more high, upright, with few or many branches, green or often strongly red-tinged, glandular-pubescent all over, usually shortly so, strongly aromatic. Lower and median leaves elliptic or ovate-elliptic in outline, mostly 2-5-14 cm. long and 1-5-7 (-9) cm. wide, acute at apex, pinnately divided each side into 3-5 more or less sharplytoothed lobes, the lower lobes extending to near midrib, the upper much shallower, and the top part of the leaf normally toothed but scarcely lobed, glands between veins on lower surface shortly but distinctly stalked (use X 20 lens); upper leaves smaller, narrower and less divided, uppermost ones often oblong and obscurely sinuate-dentate. Inflorescences composed of dichotomously branched axillary cymes which are usually aggregated into more or less leafy or nude continuous cylindrical inflorescences 1.5-6 cm. wide and up to 60 cm. or more long. Flowers greenish or red-tinged, minute, 0.5-1.5 mm. in diameter. Sepals 5, each with a green glandular keel towards apex, glandular outside, many glands distinctly stalked (X 20 lens necessary). Stamens 1-2. Pericarp easily scraped off seed. Seeds (Fig. 2/6,p. 3) black or nearly so, glossy, 0.9-1.1 mm. in diameter, with a rather prominent but blunt keel; testa under microscope very slightly rough with slightly impressed irregular sinuose lines and other minor roughnesses.

Uganda. Kigezi District: Kachwekano Farm, Jan. 1950, Purseglove 3227!; Elgon, Jan. 1918, Dummer 3630!; Masaka District: Kabula, Sept. 1945, Puraeglove 1823!

Kenya. Uasin Gishu District: Kipkarren, Sept. 1931, Brodhurst-Hill 329 in C,M, 3628!; Nakuru District: Rongai, 23 July 1951, Bogdan 3162!

Tanganyika. Bukoba District: Bugufi, Jan. 1936, Chambers K25!; Mbulu District: Oldeani, 20 June 1935, B. M. Davies 1065!; Lushoto District: Makuyuni, Koritschoner 1335!

Distb. U2-4; K3,6; Tl-3; the A.-E. Sudan and Ethiopia southwards through eastern Africa to Nyasaland

Hab. Upland grasslands, and a local weed of cultivated areas and waste places; 1340-2440 m.

Syn. C. suberifolium Murr

in Bull. Herb. Boiss., sér. 2, 4: 990, t. 6, fíg. 3a, b. (1904); Bak. & C. B. Cl. in F.T.A. 6 (1): 80 (1909); Aellen in F.R. 24: 347 (1928); F.D.O.-A. 2 (1): 204 Í 1932).

Type: Tanganyika: Lushoto District, Kwa Mshusa, Holst 8926 (Z,holo.,K, iso.!)

C. botrys L. var. procerum [" procera "] ( Hoechst, ex Moq.) C. B. CI. in. F.T.A. 6 (1) 80 (1909); F.D.O.-A. 2 (1): 204 (1932)

[ O. botrys sensu Bak. & C. B. Cl. in F.T.A. 6 (1): 80 (1909),pro parte quoad Scott-Elliot 6624, Buchanan 845 et Whyte (Nyasaland), non L.]

C. procerum has been confused with G. schraderianum , with which it has much in common, but is certainly distinct in a number of ways: (a) tendency to greater stature and more branches, (b) leaves mostly acute not obtuse, with different lobing, (c) glands on lower surface of leaf between, veins, also on outside of sepals, mostly stalked not sessile, (d) seeds slightly but constantly larger, and with somewhat more prominent keel, (e) testa marking different - compare descriptions and Fig. 2.

Hauman's statement in F.C.B. 2: 7 (1951) that C. procerum differs from (7. schraderianum solely in leaf-shape is inadequate.