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

Apocynaceae - Periplocoideae - Cryptolepideae - Stomatostemma N.E.Br.

Description :

  • Lianas or shrubs; roots simple; stems up to ± 5 m long
  • Leaves glabrous, semicoriaceous, petiolate, with reddish dentate interpetiolar ridges; blade linear, narrowly ovate, elliptic or obovate, apex acute to acuminate to cuspidate, base cuneate to rounded
  • Inflorescences terminal to axillary, few- to many-flowered
  • Flowers with gynostegium enclosed in corolla tube
  • Sepals narrowly triangular to narrowly ovate
  • Corolla creamy white to yellowish green with purplish centre or completely white; tube campanulate with nectariferous swellings on inner face at filament bases; lobes very narrowly oblong-ovate to ovate, apex obtuse
  • Corona lobes arising from corolla sinuses, clavate
  • Stamens arising from nectariferous swellings near base of corolla tube; filaments free; anthers 4-locular, narrowly triangular, glabrous
  • Style head pentangularly ovoid, apex acute to obtuse
  • Follicles paired, slightly diverging, angularly cylindrical-ovoid
  • Seeds narrowly subovoid

Nomenclature:

  • Stomatostemma N.E.Br.
    • Brown: 252 (1902)
    • Brown: 530 (1907)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 2, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe
  • Southern Africa : Species 1, Botswana, Northern Province, North-West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Swaziland and KwaZulu-Natal; dry woodland of sandy plains and mountain sides

References:

  • BROWN, N.E. 1902. Asclepiadeae . Flora of tropical Africa 4,1
  • BROWN, N.E. 1907. Asclepiadeae . Flora capensis 4,1