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

Acanthaceae - Acanthoideae - Justicieae - Odontoneminae - Ecbolium Kurz

Description :

  • Shrubs or undershrubs
  • Leaves entire
  • Inflorescence terminal, spicate; bracts ovate or obovate; bracteoles 2, linear
  • Calyx regular, hairy; lobes 5, somewhat unequal; tube shorter than lobes
  • Corolla 2-lipped; upper lip bifid or subentire; lower lip deeply 3-lobed, with lobes ovate or oblong; aestivation ascending; tube longer than lobes, cylindric or funnel-shaped
  • Androecium : fertile stamens 2, arising low down in corolla tube, exserted; filaments linear; anthers 2-thecous; thecae parallel, muticous; staminodes 2
  • Pollen spheroidal, 3-colporate, with pseudocolpi; surface reticulate
  • Disc shallowly cupular, sometimes with V-shaped slit, with 2 awns
  • Gynoecium : ovary with 1 or occasionally 2 ovules in each locule; style terete, somewhat exserted; style branches 2, equal, expanded and disciform
  • Capsule ovoid, stipitate, with inelastic placental bases
  • Seeds irregularly obovate, dorsiventral, rimmed, with hygroscopic glochidiate hairs sparse on central area
  • x = 9 (10) (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Ecbolium Kurz
    • Kurz: 75 (1871)
    • Vollesen: 638 (1989)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 22, Africa to India
  • Southern Africa : Species 3, Namibia, Swaziland and eastern provinces of South Africa

References:

  • KURZ, W.S. 1871. Ecbolium . Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 40
  • VOLLESEN, K. 1989. A revision of Megalochlamys and Ecbolium ( Acanthaceae : Justicieae ). Kew Bulletin 44