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

Rhamnaceae - Helinus E.Mey. ex Endl.

Description :

  • Climbing shrubs with tendrils
  • Leaves alternate, petioled, more or less ovate-cordate; stipules linear, deciduous
  • Flowers in axillary, peduncled umbels
  • Calyx 5-lobed; tube campanulate; lobes slightly keeled on inner face
  • Petals 5, ± as long as calyx lobes, cucullate, inserted on margin of disc
  • Disc epigynous, flat, completely filling the calyx tube
  • Stamens 5, equalling petals
  • Ovary inferior, 3-locular; style short, 3-fid
  • Fruit obovate-globose, areolate at apex, 3-coccous; cocci at length dehiscent, with a 3-partite, central axis
  • Seeds black, somewhat planoconvex, with keel on flat face

Nomenclature:

  • Helinus E.Mey. ex Endl.
    • Endlicher: 1102 (1840)
    • Drummond: 435 (1966)
    • Johnston: 14 (1972) name conserved
  • Marlothia Engl.
    • Engler: 39 (1899)
    • Miller: 51 (1952)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 6, Africa, Madagascar to India
  • Southern Africa : Species 2, eastern parts of Mpumalanga to KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape near Uitenhage

References:

  • DRUMMOND, R.B. 1966. Rhamnaceae . Flora zambesiaca 2
  • ENDLICHER, S.F.L 1840. Genera plantarum . Beck, Vienna
  • ENGLER, A. 1899. Plantae Marlothianae. Botanische Jahrbücher 10
  • JOHNSTON, M.C. 1972. Flora of tropical East Africa . Rhamnaceae
  • MILLER, O.B. 1952. The woody plants of the Bechuanaland Protectorate. Journal of South African Botany 18