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

Asteraceae - Mutisieae - Pleiotaxis Steetz

Description :

  • Perennial herbs or subshrubs, often with woody rootstock
  • Leaves alternate, usually toothed, frequently cobwebby or tomentose
  • Capitula discoid, terminal, solitary or in few- to many-headed racemes or panicles
  • Involucre ± campanulate or subcylindric; bracts in many rows, closely imbricate, ovate to oblong, obtuse
  • Receptacle epaleate
  • Florets bisexual; corolla white or bright dark red; tube slender below, dilated above, with 5 ± linear lobes
  • Anthers with elongate, ciliate or fimbriate tails
  • Style with branches long, subapically with short hairs, glabrous at tips
  • Cypselas slender, somewhat compressed or 4-angled, glabrous or pilose
  • Pappus of many scabrid bristles

Nomenclature:

  • Pleiotaxis Steetz
    • Steetz: 499 (1864)
    • Merxmüller: 148 (1967)
    • Wild: 194 (1972)
    • Bremer: 104 (1994)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 26, tropical Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 2: Pleiotaxis antunesii O.Hoffm. in the northern parts of Namibia and P. eximia O.Hoffm. in Botswana

References:

  • BREMER, K. 1994. Asteraceae , cladistics & classification . Timber Press, Portland, Oregon
  • MERXMÜLLER, H. 1967. Asteraceae . Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 139
  • STEETZ, J. 1864. Compositae . In W. Peters. Naturwissenschaftliche Reise nach Mossambique (Botanik) Vol. 6. Georg Reimer, Berlin
  • WILD, H. 1972. The Compositae of the Flora zambesiaca area, 3. Mutisieae . Kirkia 8