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

Apiaceae - Apioideae - Torilis Adans.

Description :

  • Annual herbs
  • Leaves pinnately compound, resembling carrot leaves
  • Flowers in umbels opposite leaves; umbels compound with few rays; involucre absent; corolla larger on outside flowers than on inner ones
  • Calyx of 5 small, acute teeth, persistent
  • Petals obovate, emarginate, with inflexed point, white
  • Fruit grooved at sides, covered with stiff, straight bristles; mericarps circular in section, without ridges
  • x = 6 (8, 11) (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Torilis Adans.
    • Adanson: 99 (1763)
    • Sonder: 564 (1862)
    • Burtt: 251 (1991)
    • Pimenov & Leonov: 113 (1993)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 15, Africa and adjacent areas
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Links (= T. africana (Thunb.) Spreng.), doubtfully indigenous to South Africa, mostly in the Cape coastal districts; another species, * T. nodosa (L.) Gaertn., occurs sporadically as an escape

References:

  • ADANSON, M. 1763. Familles des plantes 2. Facsimile edn: Cramer, Lehre
  • BURTT, B.L. 1991. Umbelliferae of southern Africa: an introduction and annotated checklist. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 48
  • PIMENOV, M.G. & LEONOV, M.V. 1993. The genera of the Umbelliferae . A nomenclator . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
  • SONDER, W. 1862. Umbelliferae . Flora capensis 2