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

Dipsacaceae - Cephalaria Schrad.

Description :

  • Annual or perennial herbs, often with woody rootstock
  • Leaves opposite, often radical, variable in shape and lobing
  • Flowers aggregated into pedunculate heads, rarely heads sessile; individual flowers or florets bracteate or surrounded by an involucre which is often ciliate
  • Calyx small, shallowly lobed, usually ciliate, pappus-like
  • Corolla 4(5)-lobed; tube funnel-shaped, hairy within; lobes often unequal, shorter than tube
  • Stamens 4(5), arising in corolla throat, exserted; filaments linear, longer than anthers; anthers linear or oblong
  • Ovary usually ribbed; style included or exserted; stigma linear, thickened, grooved, or unequally 2-lobed
  • Fruit as for family
  • x = 9 (5, 8) (B-chromosomes)

Nomenclature:

  • Cephalaria Schrad.
    • Schrader: 1, 43 (1818) name conserved
    • Sonder: 41 (1865)
    • Von Szabo: 1 (1940)
    • Napper: 466 (1968)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 60, Mediterranean and Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species ± 15, all regions except Namibia, Botswana, and Northern Cape

References:

  • NAPPER, D.M. 1968. Notes on some tropical and South African Dipsacaceae . Kew Bulletin 21
  • SCHRADER, H. A. 1818. In J.J. Roemer & J.A. Schultes, Caroli a Linné equitis systema vegetabilium etc. 3. J.G. Cotta, Stuttgart
  • SONDER, W. 1865. Dipsaceae . Flora capensis 3
  • VON SZABO, Z. 1940. A Cephalaria -génusz monográfiája. Matematikai és Természettudömányi Kozlemények, Budapest 38,4