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

Proteaceae - Proteoideae - Orothamnus Pappe ex Hook.

Description :

  • Shrubs, erect, very sparsely branched
  • Leaves alternate, imbricate, sessile, rhombic-obovate, glabrescent, margins thickly fimbriate
  • Inflorescence a capitulum, axillary, pedunculate, 1-5 towards apex of branches, bracteate; bracts obovate, in several whorls, outermost greenish and shaggy, innermost scarlet, carnose and glabrous, but puberulous proximally on abaxial surface; involucral receptacle flat
  • Flowers bisexual, regular
  • Perianth cylindric, straight in bud; tube a quarter the length of perianth, pubescent distally, glabrous proximally; claws filiform, villous; limbs linear, acute, glabrescent
  • Anthers linear, acute, arising from base of perianth limbs
  • Ovary ovoid, puberulous, with 1 ovule; style slender, curved before anthesis, straightening later; pollen presenter linear-filiform, quadrangular, acute, geniculate at base
  • Hypogynous scales 4, linear-subulate
  • Fruit a cylindric achene, introrse at base, minutely puberulous

Nomenclature:

  • Orothamnus Pappe ex Hook.
    • Hooker: t. 4357 (1848)
    • Stapf et al.: 650 (1912)
    • Rourke & Lincoln: 147 (1982)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Orothamnus zeyheri Pappe ex Hook., Western Cape: coastal mountains above Betty's Bay and Hermanus

References:

  • HOOKER, W.J. 1848. Orothamnus zeyheri . Curtis's Botanical Magazine
  • ROURKE, J.P. & LINCOLN, T. 1982. Mimetes , an illustrated account of Mimetes Salisb. and Orothamnus Pappe . Tiyan, Cape Town
  • STAPF, O, PHILLIPS, E.P. & HUTCHINSON, J. 1912. Proteaceae . Flora capensis 5,1