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

Malpighiaceae - Triaspis Burch

Description :

  • Scandent shrubs with twining stems, sometimes erect shrubs
  • Leaves opposite, rarely ternate, with or without minute glands on lamina; stipules absent
  • Flowers in axillary corymbose racemes
  • Calyx 5-lobed
  • Petals concave, shortly unguiculate, pink to purplish, margin fimbriate: 1 petal fimbriate along whole margin, 1 petal fimbriate at base only, 3 petals fimbriate along one side
  • Stamens : filaments often slightly unequal, free
  • Ovary 3-locular, hairy or glabrous; styles 3, curved; stigmas lateral
  • Fruit separable, breaking up into (2)3 shield- or saucershaped samaras with lateral wing and usually a dorsal crest
  • Seeds globose or ellipsoid
  • x = 10

Nomenclature:

  • Triaspis Burch
    • Burchell: 280, t. 290 (1824)
    • Sonder: 232 (1860)
    • Hooker: 259 (1862)
    • Launert: 113 (1963)
    • Immelman: 63 (1986)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 12, all African
  • Southern Africa : Species 2, widespread, but not often abundant, Namibia, Botswana, Northern Province, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Swaziland and Northern Cape

References:

  • BURCHELL, W.J. 1824. Travels in the interior of southern Africa . Longman, London
  • HOOKER, J.D. 1862. Malpighiaceae . In G. Bentham & J.D. Hooker, Genera plantarum . Lovell Reeve, London
  • IMMELMAN, K.L. 1986. Malpighiaceae . Flora of southern Africa 18, 3
  • LAUNERT, E. 1963. Malpighiaceae . Flora zambesiaca 2
  • SONDER, O.W. 1860. Malpighiaceae . Flora capensis 1