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

Aizoaceae - Sesuvioideae - Zaleya Burm.f.

Description :

  • Annual or perennial, prostrate to ascending herbs
  • Leaves opposite, petiolate, slightly succulent, with a membranous sheath at base of petiole; stipules 0
  • Flowers bisexual, sessile, in axillary clusters of 5-20
  • Perianth 5-lobed, connate in lower half; lobes with membranous margins, coloured within, dorsally mucronate
  • Stamens 5-15, free, arising from upper part of calyx tube
  • Ovary superior, 2-carpellate, syncarpous, 2-locular, with 2 ovules per locule, arising from interlocular septum; stigmas 2, free
  • Fruit a 4-seeded capsule; operculum splitting septicidally into 2 valves
  • Seeds reniform

Nomenclature:

  • Zaleya Burm.f.
    • Burman: 110 (1768)
    • Jeffrey: 235 (1960)
    • Jeffrey: 28 (1961)
    • Friedrich: 134 (1970)
    • Gonçalves: 520 (1978)
    • Hartmann: 45 (1993)
    • Gilbert: 115 (1993)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 6, NE and E Africa, Asia and Australia
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Zaleya pentandra (L.) Jeffrey, Namibia, Botswana, Northern Province, North-West, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, N KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape

References:

  • BURMAN, N.L. 1768. Flora indica . Haak, Leiden
  • FRIEDRICH, H.C. 1970. Aizoaceae . Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 27
  • GILBERT, M.G. 1993. Aizoaceae . Flora of Somalia 1
  • GONÇALVES, M.L. 1978. Aizoaceae sensu lato. Flora zambesiaca 4
  • HARTMANN, H.E.K. 1993. Aizoaceae . In K. Kubitzki, J.G. Rohwer & V. Bittrich, The families and genera of vascular plants - dicotyledons 2. Springer-Verlag, Berlin
  • JEFFREY, C. 1960. Notes on tropical African Aizoaceae . Kew Bulletin 14
  • JEFFREY, C. 1961. Aizoaceae . Flora of tropical East Africa . Aizoaceae