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

Fabaceae - Papilionoideae - Galegeae - Coluteinae - Lessertia DC.

Description :

  • Herbs, shrublets, or shrubs, rarely spinescent
  • Leaves imparipinnate, stipulate
  • Flowers in pedunculate, axillary racemes, rarely solitary and terminal, bracteate
  • Calyx with campanulate tube; lobes subequal
  • Petals : vexillum sometimes bilobed, sessile or shortly clawed; wings usually eared, clawed; keel straight or incurved, clawed
  • Stamens diadelphous; anthers uniform
  • Ovary sessile or stalked, 2-many-ovuled; style incurved, bearded in front below apex
  • Pod membranous, slightly inflated or compressed, opening at apex
  • Seeds reniform, with filiform funicle
  • x = 8

Nomenclature:

  • Lessertia DC.
    • Candolle: 37 (1802) name conserved
    • Harvey: 213 (1862)
    • Bolus: 87 (1915)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species over 50, Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species ± 47, widespread

References:

  • BOLUS, L. 1915. Notes on Lessertia with descriptions of six new species and a key. The Annals of the Bolus Herbarium 1,3
  • CANDOLLE, A.P. DE. 1802. Astragalogia . Garnery, Paris
  • HARVEY, W.H. 1862. Leguminosae . Flora capensis 2