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

Aizoaceae - Aizooideae - Plinthus Fenzl

Description :

  • Procumbent perennial subshrubs, younger plants with scale hairs
  • Leaves opposite or alternate, small, imbricate, ovate or ± 3-angled; stipules 0
  • Inflorescence of 1-3 sessile flowers
  • Flowers perigynous, bisexual
  • Perianth 4- or 5-lobed; tube ± campanulate
  • Stamens 4 or 5, alternisepalous; filaments exserted or included
  • Ovary 2-4-locular, papillose or pubescent, with 1 pendulous ovule per locule; styles 2 or 3(4)
  • Fruit a capsule with reduced expanding tissue
  • Seeds flat, subreniform, often ribbed, with elongated funicle

Nomenclature:

  • Plinthus Fenzl
    • Fenzl: 288 (1841)
    • Sonder: 479 (1862)
    • Schellenberg: 499 (1913)
    • Pax & Hoffmann: 225 (1934)
    • Verdoorn: 177 (1941)
    • Adamson: 147 (1961)
    • Friedrich: 91 (1970)
    • Gonçalves: 511 (1978)
    • Hartmann: 44 (1993)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 5 or 6, Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 5 or 6, Namibia, Botswana, Northern Province, Free State and Northern Cape

References:

  • ADAMSON, R.S. 1961. The South African species of Aizoaceae . XI. Plinthus . Journal of South African Botany 27
  • FENZL, E. 1841. Verbesserungen und Zusätze zur ersten Abtheilung der Monographie. Annalen des Wiener Museums der Naturgeschichte, Vienna 2
  • FRIEDRICH, H.C. 1970. Aizoaceae . Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 27
  • 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
  • PAX, F. & HOFFMANN, K. 1934. Aizoaceae . Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien , edn 2,16c
  • SCHELLENBERG, G. 1913. Aizoaceae africanae II. Botanische Jahrbücher 48
  • SONDER, O.W. 1862. Mesembryaceae (excl. Tetragonia ). Flora capensis 2
  • VERDOORN, I.C. 1941. The genus Plinthus . Bothalia 4