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

Primulaceae - Samolus L.

Description :

  • Herbs with soft or wiry flowering branches
  • Leaves somewhat rosulate and petiolate in early growth, often dying when flowering stem is produced, alternate on flowering stems, either soft or somewhat rigid and scabrid
  • Flowers in racemes or panicles
  • Calyx 5-fid, persistent
  • Corolla deciduous; limb 5-partite, with 5 narrow scales (staminodes) arising from mouth of tube and alternating with corolla lobes and stamens
  • Stamens 5, arising from corolla tube; anthers basifixed
  • Ovary half-inferior, many-seeded; style filiform
  • Capsule opening above by 5 valves
  • x = 13 (12) (high polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Samolus L.
    • Linnaeus: 171 (1753)
    • Pax & Knuth: 336 (1905)
    • Harvey & Wright: 430 (1906)
    • Dyer: 10 (1963)
    • Peltier: 13 (1981)
    • Kupicha: 196 (1983)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 15, cosmopolitan, mostly in saline marshes
  • Southern Africa : Species 2, Namibia, Botswana, all provinces of South Africa except Free State

References:

  • DYER, R.A. 1963. Primulaceae . Flora of southern Africa 26
  • HARVEY, W.H. & WRIGHT, C.H. 1906. Primulaceae . Flora capensis 4,1
  • KUPICHA, F.K. 1983. Primulaceae . Flora zambesiaca 7
  • LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum . Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • PAX, F. & KNUTH, R. 1905. Primulaceae . Das Pflanzenreich 4, 237 (Heft 22)
  • PELTIER, M. 1981. Primulacées. Flore de Madagascar et des Comores 162