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

Melastomataceae - *Heterocentron Hook. & Arn.

Description :

  • Herbs or shrubs
  • Leaves small, entire, 3-15-nerved, petiolate
  • Flowers solitary or in panicles, small, white, rose or purple, 4-merous
  • Stamens 8, dimorphic
  • Ovary often setose
  • Fruit a 4-valved capsule
  • x = 9 (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • *Heterocentron Hook. & Arn.
    • Hooker & Arnot: 290 (1838)
    • Bailey & Bailey: 558 (1977)
    • Fernandes & Fernandes: 220 (1978)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 27, herbs and shrubs native to S Mexico and central America; naturalised in Hawaii, Jamaica, Java and New Guinea
  • Southern Africa : * Heterocentron macrostachyum Naud., first record at PRE, collected at White River (Mpumalanga)

References:

  • BAILEY, L.H. & BAILEY, E.Z. 1977. Heterocentron . Hortus Third, a concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada . Macmillan, New York
  • FERNANDES, R. & FERNANDES, A. 1978. Melastomataceae . Flora zambesiaca 4
  • HOOKER, W.J. & ARNOT, G.A.W. 1838. The botany of Captain Beechey's voyage , part 2. Bohn, London