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

Pontederiaceae - Monochoria C.Presl

Description :

  • Annual or perennial aquatic herbs, erect, usually deciduous, rhizomatous
  • Leaves radical, emergent, petiolate, with cordate to ovate blade, extremely variable as to size and shape
  • Flowers pedicelled, racemose or subumbellate
  • Perianth segments free, subequal, blue, marcescent
  • Stamens 3 + 3, arising from base of segments, unequal, the largest with an erect tooth on one side of filament; anthers erect, basifxed, opening by apical slits
  • Ovary 3-locular, with axile placentas, many-ovulate; style filiform; stigma apical, small
  • Capsule spindle-shaped, with thin pericarp enclosed by marcescent perianth
  • Seeds many, minute, ovoid, with several thin ribs
  • x = 10, 13, 14 (aneuploids, high polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Monochoria C.Presl
    • Presl: 127 (1827)
    • Verdcourt: 80 (1961)
    • Obermeyer: 61 (1985)
    • Cook: 194 (1990)
    • Sainty & Jacobs: 30 (1994)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 8, tropical Africa, Asia and Australia, naturalised in Europe
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Monochoria africana (Solms) N.E.Br., only known from central and southern parts of the Kruger National Park and from a neighbouring private game reserve (Mpumalanga); apparently annual, growing in or around the edge of pans

References:

  • COOK, C.D.K. 1990. Aquatic plant book . SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague
  • OBERMEYER, A.A. 1985. Pontederiaceae . Flora of southern Africa 4,2
  • PRESL, C. 1827. Reliquiae haenkeanae 1. J.G. Calve, Prague
  • SAINTY, G.R. & JACOBS, S.W.L. 1994. Waterplants in Australia: a field guide . CSIRO, Division of Water Resources, Darlinghurst
  • VERDCOURT, B. 1961. The genus Monochoria Presl ( Pontederiaceae ) in Africa. Kirkia 1