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

Gentianaceae - Orphium E.Mey.

Description :

  • Suffrutices, erect, virgately branched, ± pubescent; branches leafy to apex
  • Leaves opposite, sessile, rather crowded
  • Inflorescence a lax cyme, terminal or in axils of upper leaves, sometimes flowers solitary
  • Calyx 5-lobed, fitting loosely round corolla base; tube short, campanulate, with annular, crenulate disc at base within; lobes oblong, mucronate, without a dorsal keel
  • Corolla deep pink, rarely white; tube as long as or slightly longer than loosely enveloping calyx; lobes 5, oblong to suborbicular, slightly longer than tube
  • Stamens 5, arising below mouth of tube; anthers erect, slightly spirally twisted
  • Ovary 1-locular, with parietal placentation, oblong-elliptic in outline, shortly narrowing into a long style; stigma terminal, peltate
  • Capsule splitting septicidally

Nomenclature:

  • Orphium E.Mey.
    • Meyer: 181 (1837)
    • Hill & Prain: 1095 (1909)
    • Marais & Verdoorn: 236 (1963)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Orphium frutescens (L.) E.Mey., Western Cape

References:

  • HILL, A.W. & PRAIN, D. 1909. Gentianeae . Flora capensis 4, 1
  • MARAIS, W. & VERDOORN, I.C. 1963. Gentianaceae . Flora of southern Africa 26
  • MEYER, E.H.F. 1837. Gentianeae Juss. Commentariorum de plantis africae australioris . L. Voss, Leipzig