genus descriptions: SSAs

Elytraria

Michx.
Source:
SSA
Description:
Dwarf herbs. Leaves in basal rosette. Inflorescence terminal, simple or divided, narrow spikes, on slender bract-covered peduncles; bracts ovate, closely wrapped around peduncle, with membranous margin fringed with woolly hairs; bracteoles 2. Calyx subirregular; lobes 5; tube shorter than lobes. Corolla 2-lipped, with 1 lip shortly 2-lobed; lobes oblong or ovate, imbricate in bud; tube longer than lobes. Androecium: fertile stamens 2, arising in corolla throat; filaments short; anthers 2-thecous, with a terminal projection; thecae parallel, with minute tails or muticous; staminodes 0. Pollen spheroidal; 3-colpate; surface with shallow reticulations. Disc annular. Gynoecium: ovary +/- ellipsoid, with several ovules in each locule; style linear; style branches 2, equal, cylindriform. Capsule slightly beaked, estipitate; with inelastic placental bases; retinacula 0. Seeds minute, ovoid, reticulate, minutely papillose. x = 11, 12 (10, 23) (polyploidy).
Distribution:
Species +/- 7, Africa, Asia and America; 1 in sthn Afr.: Elytrariaacaulis (L.f.) Lindau, Botswana and Northern Province.

Mon, 2009-04-27 09:15 -- Emily Smith
Glossochilus

Nees
Source:
SSA
Description:
Shrublets with tap root. Leaves linear to spatulate-linear, glabrescent. Inflorescence of solitary, axillary flowers; bracteoles 0. Calyx regular; lobes 5, linear, ciliate; tube shorter than lobes. Corolla 2-lipped, subregular, pubescent; upper lip 2-lobed with lobes oblong, rugula distinct; lower lip 3-lobed, with middle lobe ovate and with deep channel and transverse ridges, and lateral lobes oblong; aestivation ascending; tube longer than lobes, funnel-shaped, pilose within near base. Androecium: fertile stamens 4; filaments didynamous, arising in pairs on lower part of corolla tube, included, linear; anthers 2-thecous; thecae subparallel, muticous; staminodes 0. Pollen spheroidal, 2-colporate, with pseudocolpi; surface reticulate. Disc cupular, with projection perhaps representing a fifth stamen. Gynoecium: ovary with 2 ovules in each locule; style terete, pubescent near base; style branches 2, equal, cylindriform, or sometimes expanded. Capsule cylindric, stipitate, with inelastic placental bases. Seeds compressed, elliptic, rimmed, produced into blunt projection on one side, deeply concave on other, grooved on margin, surface rough.
Distribution:
Species 2, sthn Afr., Botswana and northern arid areas of South Africa.

Mon, 2009-04-27 09:15 -- Emily Smith
Hygrophila

R.Br. emend. Heine
Source:
SSA
Synonym(s):
Asteracantha Nees: 75 (1832). Hemigraphis Nees in part: 722 (1847).
Description:
Herbs, often glandular. Leaves linear to lanceolate or ovate, entire. Inflorescence axillary; dichasial cymes or solitary flowers; pedicels present or very short; bracts resembling leaves; bracteoles 0. Calyx lobes 4; subregular; tube shorter than lobes. Corolla 2-lipped, subregular or irregular; upper lip 2-lobed, with lobes recurved, sometimes bifid, rugula distinct; lower lip 3-lobed, with lobes strongly reflexed; aestivation imbricate; tube longer than lobes, cylindric below, widening above, sometimes somewhat saccate on widened portion. Androecium: fertile stamens 4; filaments didynamous, arising in pairs, usually broadly linear, sometimes with coarse setae, arising +/- in middle of corolla tube or in mouth or on base of upper lip; anthers 2-thecous; thecae parallel, muticous; staminodes 0. Disc deeply cupular. Gynoecium: ovary oblong or linear-oblong, with 10-13 ovules in each locule; style terete-filiform, +/- exserted, running in rugula; style branch 1; ventral lobe flattened. Capsule linear or linear-oblong, estipitate, with inelastic placental bases. Pollen prolate, 3-colporate, with many pseudocolpi; surface reticulate. Seeds compressed, with hygroscopic hairs over whole surface. x = 16 (11, 17) (polyploidy).
Distribution:
Species +/- 100, tropics generally; 9 in sthn Afr., N Namibia and Bo- tswana, Swaziland and eastern provinces of South Africa.

Mon, 2009-04-27 09:15 -- Emily Smith
Hypoestes

Sol. ex R.Br.
Source:
SSA
Description:
Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves entire. Inflorescence axillary, umbel-like group of monochasial cymes, sometimes reduced; primary bracts foliaceous, secondary bracts linear-lanceolate, tertiary bracts obovate, elliptic, or narrowly lanceolate, free or united into a tube, quaternary bracts linear-lanceolate when present. Calyx regular; lobes 4 or 5, linear-lanceolate; tube shorter than lobes. Corolla 2-lipped, resupinate, hairy; lip in upper position 3-toothed or shortly 3-lobed, rugula indistinct; lip in lower position entire or emarginate; aestivation ascending; tube shorter than lobes, cylindric below, somewhat campanulate above. Androecium: fertile stamens 2, arising in corolla throat, exserted; filaments linear, thinly hairy; anthers monothecous; theca muticous; staminodes 0. Pollen prolate, 3-colporate, with pseudocolpi; surface reticulate. Disc cupular, with V-shaped slit, with 2 awns. Gynoecium: ovary ellipsoid, with 2 ovules in each locule; style filiform, exserted; style branches 2, equal, cylindriform, longer than broad. Capsule ovoid, stipitate. Seeds discoid; surface smooth or rough, with or without tubercles. x = 10 (aneuploids).
Distribution:
Species +/- 40, Africa to Asia, East Indies and Australia; 3 in sthn Afr., Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and mainly northern and eastern provinces of South Africa south to +/- Still Bay (Western Cape).

Mon, 2009-04-27 09:15 -- Emily Smith

GATEWAY TO AFRICAN PLANTS

Un outil dicisif vers l'identification des plantes africaines

Elytraria

Glossochilus

Hygrophila

Hypoestes

Pages

Search form

You are here

genus descriptions: SSAs

Pages