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

Acanthaceae - Acanthoideae - Justicieae - Odontoneminae - Ruspolia Lindau

Description :

  • Subshrubs
  • Leaves shortly petiolate
  • Inflorescence terminal thyrses; bracts and bracteoles present
  • Calyx regular, hairy, sometimes glandular; lobes 5; tube shorter than lobes
  • Corolla 2-lipped; lobes 5, oblong; aestivation ascending; tube much longer than lobes, cylindric, glandular
  • Androecium : fertile stamens 2; arising in throat of corolla, exserted; filaments linear; anthers monothecous; thecae muticous; staminodes 2
  • Pollen prolate, 3-colporate, with pseudocolpi; surface reticulate
  • Disc shallowly cupular
  • Gynoecium : ovary with 2 ovules in each locule; style filiform, exserted; style branches 2, equal, very short, broader than long
  • Capsule club-shaped, stipitate, with inelastic placental bases
  • Seeds semi-orbicular, compressed, with somewhat horny margin, smooth on outer surface, rough and convoluted or rugose on inner surface

Nomenclature:

  • Ruspolia Lindau
    • Lindau: 79 (1896)
    • Milne-Redhead: 255 (1936)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 4, Africa, Madagascar
  • Southern Africa : Species 3, N Botswana and Northern Province of South Africa

References:

  • LINDAU, G. 1896. Ruspolia . Annuario del reale istituto botanico di Roma 6
  • MILNE-REDHEAD, E. 1936. Eranthemum of the 'Flora of tropical Africa'. Kew Bulletin 1936