e-Key v3 - Key to Astereae Genera
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.
  • Key to the genera of the tribe Astereae compiled from descriptions in Bremer (1994); Hilliard (1977) and key by Nesom: 86 (1994)
Backtrack a
  • Plants dioecious
* Baccharis
b
  • Plants monoecious
002
Backtrack a
  • Pappus uniseriate
002
b
  • Pappus biseriate
002
Backtrack a
  • Anthers shortly caudate; receptacle paleate
Poecilolepis
b
  • Anthers ecaudate; receptacle epaleate
002
Backtrack a
  • Capitula distinctly radiate
002
b
  • Capitula disciform or discoid
002
Backtrack a
  • Cypselas ellipsoid-oblong, with swollen margin and apically surmounted by horny collar
Polyarrhena
b
  • Cypselas strongly compressed, without apical ring
002
Backtrack a
  • Pappus of plumose bristles
002
b
  • Pappus of barbellate bristles
002
Backtrack a
  • Fertile cypselas moderately to densely strigose-sericeous with filiform hairs; rays white to blue or yellow; pappus of ray cypselas similar to that of disc (sterile) cypselas, of plumose bristles
Zyrphelis
b
  • Fertile cypselas moderately to densely invested with short, white papillae or glabrous to glabrate; rays white to blue; pappus of ray cypselas 0 or of only 1 or 2 plumose or short-serrate bristles (with many bristles in 1 species), disc (sterile) cypselas with more bristles
Gymnostephium
Backtrack a
  • Scandent or twining shrubs
Microglossa
b
  • Herbs or shrubs, not scandent or twining
002
Backtrack a
  • Disc florets bisexual, rarely functionally male; pappus bristles many
Felicia
b
  • Disc florets functionally male; pappus bristles 0 or 1-3
Gymnostephium
Backtrack a
  • Capitula discoid
Felicia
b
  • Capitula disciform or shortly radiate
002
Backtrack a
  • Outer female florets in 1 row
Nolletia
b
  • Outer female florets in 2 to many rows
002
Backtrack a
  • Receptacle ± swollen; style branches with lanceolate appendages; pappus 0 or of 1 or 2 bristles
Dichrocephala
b
  • Characters not as above
002
Backtrack a
  • Pappus of few basally connate scaly bristles, a corona or 0
Grangea
b
  • Pappus of many barbellate bristles
002
Backtrack a
  • Disc florets functionally male; cypselas turbinate; shrubs
Psiadia
b
  • Disc florets bisexual, rarely some functionally male; cypselas obovoid-oblong or ellipsoid, compressed; annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubs
002
Backtrack a
  • Marginal florets (short rays) yellow
Nidorella
b
  • Marginal florets (short rays) white, pink or mauve
002
Backtrack a
  • Style branch appendages larger than stigmatic area, lanceolate-linear, acute or acuminate; cypselas obovoid-oblong, somewhat compressed, pubescent and glandular
Aster
b
  • Style branch appendages lanceolate to triangular; cypselas obovoid-oblong, sometimes compressed, pubescent
Conyza
Backtrack a
  • Capitula radiate
002
b
  • Capitula disciform or discoid
002
Backtrack a
  • Pappus of bristles only
002
b
  • Pappus an outer row of scales and an inner row of bristles
002
Backtrack a
  • Leaves in basal rosette; pappus of plumose bristles
Mairia
b
  • Leaves alternate, scattered along stem; pappus of barbellate bristles
002
Backtrack a
  • Style branch appendages longer than stigmatic area, lanceolate-linear, acute or acuminate
Aster
b
  • Style branch appendages shorter than stigmatic areas, lanceolate to triangular, acute or obtuse
* Erigeron
Backtrack a
  • Pappus bristles plumose
Mairia
b
  • Pappus of barbellate bristles
002
Backtrack a
  • Leaves opposite
Engleria
b
  • Leaves alternate, rarely lower ones opposite
002
Backtrack a
  • Receptacle mostly paleate
Amellus
b
  • Receptacle epaleate
002
Backtrack a
  • Leaves small, ericoid; cypselas with 2 resin sacs in ribs
Chrysocoma
b
  • Leaves usually broad or long, not ericoid; cypselas without ribs and resin sacs
Aster
Backtrack a
  • Capitula disciform
002
b
  • Capitula discoid
002
Backtrack a
  • Pappus of bristles only
Conyza
b
  • Pappus of bristles and scales
Amellus
Backtrack a
  • Pappus of bristles only
002
b
  • Pappus of bristles and scales
002
Backtrack a
  • Perennial herbs; leaves alternate, sometimes radical; cypselas oblong-obovoid, slightly compressed, usually 3-ribbed, glandular
Heteromma
b
  • Shrublets or shrubs; leaves mostly opposite, sometimes fascicled or alternate; cypselas obovoid or turbinate, sometimes compressed, sometimes narrowed into short, apical beak, glabrous to villous
Pteronia
Backtrack a
  • Cypselas without resin sacs; receptacle mostly paleate
Amellus
b
  • Cypselas with resin sacs in ribs; receptacle epaleate
002
Backtrack a
  • Leaves opposite
Engleria
b
  • Leaves alternate, ericoid
Chrysocoma

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