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

Zygophyllaceae - Seetzenia R.Br. ex Decne.

Description :

  • Subshrubs
  • Stems conspicuously sympodially branched; branches jointed, glandular, with woolly nodes
  • Leaves opposite, petiolate, 3-foliolate; leaflets flat, apiculate, with terminal one largest, obovate; stipules intrapetiolar
  • Flowers solitary, pedicellate
  • Calyx of 5, somewhat fleshy, valvate sepals, with a horseshoe-shaped ridge on inner face and with deflexed, glandular hairs from upper portion of ridge
  • Petals 0
  • Disc inconspicuous
  • Stamens 5(7 or 8) inserted on disc; filaments thick, somewhat angled, glabrous; anthers oblong, with slightly separated thecae
  • Ovary sessile, oblong-clavate, 5-angled, 5-locular, with a single, pendulous ovule in each locule; styles 5(6 or 7), free, spreading; stigmas capitate
  • Fruit a capsule, breaking into 5 mericarps from a 5-angled axis
  • Seeds compressed; endosperm not known

Nomenclature:

  • Seetzenia R.Br. ex Decne.
    • Decaisne: 280 (1835)
    • Sonder: 365 (1860)
    • Hooker: 266 (1862)
    • Oliver: 287 (1868)
    • Engler: 79 (1897)
    • Engler: 160 (1931)
    • Phillips: 433 (1951)
    • Hadidi: 21 (1972)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 2, one in N Africa and India, the other in southern Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Seetzenia lanata (Willd.) Bullock, in the Clanwilliam (Western Cape), Calvinia and Vanrhynsdorp areas (Northern Cape)

References:

  • DECAISNE, J. 1835. Seetzenia . Annales des sciences naturelles; Botanique. Paris , ser. 2,3
  • ENGLER, H.G.A. 1897. Zygophyllaceae . Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien , edn 1, 3, 4
  • ENGLER, H.G.A. 1931. Zygophyllaceae . Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien , edn 2, 19a
  • HADIDI, M.N. EL. 1972. Zygophyllaceae . Flora Iranica 98
  • HOOKER, J.D. 1862. Zygophylleae . In G. Bentham & J.D. Hooker, Genera plantarum 1. Pamplin, London
  • OLIVER, D. 1868. Zygophylleae . Flora of tropical Africa 1
  • PHILLIPS, E.P. 1951. The genera of South African flowering plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 25
  • SONDER, W. 1860. Zygophylleae . Flora capensis 1