e-Key v3 - *Rapistrum
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Brassicaceae - Brassiceae - *Rapistrum Crantz

Description :

  • Annual or perennial herbs; stems hispid with simple hairs
  • Leaves pinnatisect or pinnatifid
  • Inflorescences terminal, ebracteate racemes
  • Sepals erect-spreading, inner 2 saccate
  • Petals shortly clawed, yellow
  • Stamens 6; filaments without appendages
  • Nectaries 6; median 2 tongue-shaped; lateral 4 small, flat
  • Fruit a transversely articulate siliqua; valvar portion 0-2-seeded, cylindrical, ellipsoid, or obconical; stylar portion ovoid to globose, wider than the lower portion, 1-seeded, indehiscent; beak conical or filiform
  • Seeds ovoid, smooth; cotyledons longitudinally folded around incumbent radicle
  • x = 8 (aneuploids)

Nomenclature:

  • *Rapistrum Crantz
    • Crantz: 105 (1769)
    • De Carvalho e Vasconcellos: 343 (1964)
    • Marais: 16 (1970)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 3, central Europe, Mediterranean region and W Asia
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: * Rapistrum rugosum (L.) All., naturalised in North-West, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape

References:

  • CRANTZ, H.J.N. 1769. Classis cruciformium emendata . Kraus, Leipzig
  • DE CARVALHO E VASCONCELLOS, J. 1964. Cruciferae . Lepidium and Rapistrum . Flora europaea 1
  • MARAIS, W. 1970. Cruciferae . Flora of southern Africa 13