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

Vitaceae - Ampelocissus Planch.

Description :

  • Perennial herbs, climbers or lianes
  • Tendrils usually present, arising from peduncle
  • Leaves simple or digitately 3-5-foliolate, margins entire or toothed; leaflets sessile or petiolate; stipules deltate, small
  • Flowers in dense or lax cymes or paniculate; buds subglobose
  • Calyx entire or obscurely 5-lobed
  • Corolla usually dark red; petals 5, oblong
  • Disc furrowed, ± entire, clasping ovary
  • Stamens 5; filaments half to two-thirds as long as petals
  • Ovary ribbed; style conical, very short; stigma capitate
  • Fruit subglobose, glabrous
  • Seeds usually 4, flattened, ellipsoid with a strongly marked, longitudinal keel on one side and a medium furrow or pit on the other, variously rugose
  • x = 10 (high polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Ampelocissus Planch.
    • Planchon: 372 (1884) name conserved
    • Planchon: 368 (1887)
    • Wild & Drummond: 439 (1963)
    • Descoings: 70 (1968)
    • Merxmüller & Schreiber: 1 (1969)
    • Descoings: 7 (1972)
    • Verdcourt: 2 (1993)
  • Botria Lour.
    • Loureiro: 153 (1790)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 100, cosmopolitan in the tropics
  • Southern Africa : 2 species: Ampelocissus africana (Lour.) Merr. is found in the northern parts of Namibia, and A. obtusata (Welw. ex Baker) Planch. subsp. kirkiana (Planch.) Wild & R.B.Drumm. occurs in Namibia, Botswana and Northern Province

References:

  • DESCOINGS, B. 1968. Vitacées. Flore du Gabon 14
  • DESCOINGS, B. 1972. Vitacées. Flore du Cameroun 13
  • LOUREIRO, J. DE. 1790. Flora cochinchinensis . Academy, Lisbon
  • MERXMÜLLER, H. & SCHREIBER A. 1969. Vitaceae . Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 80
  • PLANCHON, J.E. 1884. Les vignes américaines 8. Adrien Delahaye, Paris
  • PLANCHON, J.E. 1887. Ampelideae . In A.L.P.P. & A.C.P. de Candolle, Monographiae phanerogamarum 5,2. G. Masson, Paris
  • VERDCOURT, B. 1993. Flora of tropical East Africa . Vitaceae
  • WILD, H. & DRUMMOND, R.B. 1963. Vitaceae . Flora zambesiaca 2