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

Restionaceae - Platycaulos H.P.Linder

Description :

  • Plants forming rounded cushions, or more commonly tangled
  • Rhizomes 0 or short
  • Culms ± compressed, branching
  • Leaf sheaths convolute, persistent, green, with a stout green apical mucro
  • Male inflorescence spicate, with large spathes, small well-defined sessile spikelets and with most bracts fertile
  • Male spikelets : perianth cartilaginous, outer lateral segments conduplicate, carinate, villous on carina, all segments imbricate; anthers exserted from perianth at anthesis
  • Female inflorescence similar to male
  • Female spikelets : florets somewhat larger than males; staminodes well developed; ovary 1-3-locular; styles 3, free, plumose, exserted from bracts at anthesis
  • Fruit a 2-locular, dehiscent capsule; seeds white with a fragile surface

Nomenclature:

  • Platycaulos H.P.Linder
    • Linder: 64 (1984)
    • Linder: 434 (1985)
    • Linder: 249 (1991)
  • Restio Rottb.
    • Pillans: 210 (1928) in part

Distribution & Notes:

  • Southern Africa : Species ± 8, W and SW Eastern Cape

References:

  • LINDER, H.P. 1984. A phylogenetic classification of the genera of the African Restionaceae . Bothalia 15
  • LINDER, H.P. 1985. Conspectus of the African species of Restionaceae . Bothalia 15
  • LINDER, H.P. 1991. A review of the southern African Restionaceae . Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium 13
  • PILLANS, N.S. 1928. The African genera and species of Restionaceae . Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 16