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

Asteraceae - Astereae - Zyrphelis Cass.

Description :

  • Subshrubs or basally lignescent herbs with vestiture of stout, thick-based, usually spreading hairs, sometimes also lightly tomentose; stems prominently branching
  • Leaves alternate, linear or spathulate, entire, almost all cauline or less commonly basally disposed
  • Capitula radiate, terminal, solitary, rarely corymbosely arranged, 3-12(-18) mm wide
  • Involucral bracts with broad, scarious margins, strongly concave
  • Receptacle epaleate
  • Ray florets female, strap-shaped, fertile; corolla white, blue or yellow
  • Disc florets functionally male, sterile (but fertile in Z. perezioides ), tubular, 5-toothed; corolla yellow
  • Cypselas oblong-obovate, 2-nerved, strongly flattened, moderately to densely strigose-sericeous with filiform hairs or glabrous
  • Pappus of caducous, plumose bristles, in a single row

Nomenclature:

  • Zyrphelis Cass.
    • Cassini: 420 (1829)
    • Nesom: 91 (1994)
  • Elphegea subg. Zyrphelis (Cass.) Less.
    • Lessing: 183 (1832).
  • Mairia sect. Zyrphelis (Cass.) DC.
    • Candolle: 218 (1836).
  • Mairea sect. Zyrphelis (Cass.) Harv.
    • Harvey: 64 (1865).
  • Mairea sect. Homochroma (DC.) Harv.
    • Harvey: 64 (1865)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 10, subtropical Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 9, Western Cape

References:

  • CANDOLLE, A.P. DE. 1836. Compositae . Prodromus 5. Treuttel & Würtz, Paris
  • CASSINI, A.H.G. DE. 1829. Tableau des Synanthérées. Annales des sciences naturelles (Paris) 17
  • HARVEY, W.H. 1865. Compositae . Flora capensis 3
  • LESSING, C.F. 1832. Synopsis generum Compositarum . Duncker & Humblot, Berlin
  • NESOM, G.L. 1994. Repartition of Mairia ( Asteraceae : Astereae ). Phytologia 76,2