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

Molluginaceae - Pharnaceum L.

Description :

  • Slender subshrubs or herbs
  • Leaves alternate or crowded into false whorls, filiform or linear, rarely lanceolate or elliptic; stipules membranous, fimbriate-laciniate
  • Inflorescence a terminal umbel-like thyrse
  • Sepals 5, free or sometimes connate at base, usually coloured on inner surface
  • Petals 0
  • Stamens (3-)5, alternating with sepals
  • Nectariferous disc normally present, 3-5-lobed
  • Ovary 3-5-locular; ovules many per locule
  • Fruit a membranous, loculicidal, 3-5-valved capsule
  • Seeds globose-lenticular with a thin dorsal ridge, without appendage at apex of funicle; testa glossy brown, finely granular

Nomenclature:

  • Pharnaceum L.
    • Linnaeus: 272 (1753)
    • Linnaeus: (1754)
    • Sonder: 138 (1860)
    • Pax & Hoffmann: 227 (1934)
    • Phillips: 290 (1951)
    • Adamson: 19 (1958)
    • Friedrich: 17 (1966)
    • Ross: 161 (1972)
    • Gonçalves: 544 (1978)
    • Endress & Bittrich: 425 (1993)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 25, Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 25, Namibia, Northern Province, Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Northern, Western and Eastern Cape

References:

  • ADAMSON, R.S. 1958. The South African species of Aizoaceae . IV. Mollugo , Pharnaceum , Coelanthum and Hypertelis . Journal of South African Botany 24
  • ENDRESS, M.E. & BITTRICH, V. 1993. Molluginaceae . In K. Kubitzki, J.G. Rohwer & V. Bittrich, The families and genera of vascular plants - dicotyledons 2. Springer-Verlag, Berlin
  • FRIEDRICH, H.C. 1966. Molluginaceae . Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 26
  • GONÇALVES, M.L. 1978. Molluginaceae . Flora zambesiaca 4
  • LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum , edn 1. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • LINNAEUS, C. 1754. Genera plantarum , edn 5. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • PAX, F. & HOFFMANN, K. 1934. Aizoaceae . Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien , edn 2,16c
  • PHILLIPS, E.P. 1951. The genera of South African flowering plants, edn 2. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 25
  • ROSS, J.H. 1972. Molluginaceae . Flora of Natal. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 39
  • SONDER, O.W. 1860. Caryophylleae . Flora capensis 1