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

Acanthaceae - Nelsonioideae - Elytraria Michx.

Description :

  • Dwarf herbs
  • Leaves in basal rosette
  • Inflorescence terminal, simple or divided, narrow spikes, on slender bract-covered peduncles; bracts ovate, closely wrapped around peduncle, with membranous margin fringed with woolly hairs; bracteoles 2
  • Calyx subirregular; lobes 5; tube shorter than lobes
  • Corolla 2-lipped, with 1 lip shortly 2-lobed; lobes oblong or ovate, imbricate in bud; tube longer than lobes
  • Androecium : fertile stamens 2, arising in corolla throat; filaments short; anthers 2-thecous, with a terminal projection; thecae parallel, with minute tails or muticous; staminodes 0
  • Pollen spheroidal; 3-colpate; surface with shallow reticulations
  • Disc annular
  • Gynoecium : ovary ± ellipsoid, with several ovules in each locule; style linear; style branches 2, equal, cylindriform
  • Capsule slightly beaked, estipitate; with inelastic placental bases; retinacula 0
  • Seeds minute, ovoid, reticulate, minutely papillose
  • x = 11, 12 (10, 23) (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Elytraria Michx.
    • Michaux: 8 (1803) name conserved
    • Burkill & Clarke: 27 (1899)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 7, Africa, Asia and America
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Elytraria acaulis (L.f.) Lindau, Botswana and Northern Province

References:

  • BURKILL, I.H. & CLARKE, C.B. 1899. Acanthaceae . Flora of tropical Africa 5
  • MICHAUX, A. 1803. Elytraria . Flora boreali-americana 1. Levrault, Paris