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

Lythraceae - *Heimia Link

Description :

  • Herbs or shrubs
  • Leaves opposite-decussate, ternate or alternate, deciduous
  • Flowers 5-7-merous, solitary, homostylous
  • Calyx with appendages
  • Petals as many as calyx lobes, yellow
  • Stamens twice as many as calyx lobes, arising a quarter- to a third-way up on calyx tube
  • Ovary sessile, 3-6-locular; style longer than stamens; stigma broadly capitate
  • Capsule subcoriaceous, 3-6-loculicidal
  • x = 8

Nomenclature:

  • *Heimia Link
    • Link: 63, t. 28 (1822)
    • Schlechtendal: 346 (1827)
    • Koehne: 241 (1903)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 3 (or possibly 4), occurring naturally from Texas to Argentina and in Jamaica
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: * Heimia myrtifolia (Cham. & Schltdl.) Kuntze, an adventive

References:

  • KOEHNE, E. 1903. Heimia . Das Pflanzenreich Heft 17
  • LINK, J.H.F. 1822. In J.H.F. Link & C.F. Otto, Icones plantarum selectarum horti regni botanici berolinensis . Reimer, Berlin
  • SCHLECHTENDAL, D.F.L. VON. 1827. Heimia . Linnaea 2