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

Apocynaceae - Asclepiadoideae - Asclepiadeae - Pentarrhinum E.Mey.

Description :

  • Perennial, twining herbs
  • Leaves petiolate, cordate
  • Flowers in pedunculate, umbel-like cymes, lateral at nodes
  • Sepals with scales within base
  • Corolla deeply 5-lobed
  • Corona arising from base of staminal column, of 5-lobes; lobes in side view obconic, trumpet- or slipper-shaped, with infolded margins forming a channel or narrow, funnel-shaped cavity within, with truncate or rounded upper margin and with an inward-directed horn
  • Anthers 2-locular, with inflexed, ovate, membranous appendage
  • Pollinia terete, linear, pendulous; caudicles shorter than pollinia
  • Follicles lanceolate, ± beaked and echinate
  • Seeds brown, ovate, planoconvex, narrowly winged, with scattered, raised markings
  • x = 9 (1 report)

Nomenclature:

  • Pentarrhinum E.Mey.
    • Meyer: 199 (1838)
    • Brown: 741 (1908)
    • Liede & Nicholas: 475 (1992)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 3, Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 2, widespread except in Lesotho and Western Cape

References:

  • BROWN, N.E. 1908. Asclepiadeae . Flora capensis 4,1
  • LIEDE, S. & NICHOLAS, A. 1992. A revision of the genus Pentarrhinum E. Meyer ( Asclepiadaceae ). Kew Bulletin 47
  • MEYER, E.H.F. 1838. Commentariorum de plantis Africae australioris . Voss, Leipzig