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

Malvaceae - Malveae - Wissadula Medik.

Description :

  • Erect suffrutices or weak shrubs
  • Leaves petiolate, simple, usually cordate, entire or denticulate; stipules setaceous
  • Flowers in lax panicles; pedicels articulated
  • Epicalyx 0
  • Calyx cup-shaped
  • Petals much longer than calyx, yellow, cream or orange
  • Staminal tube very short, bearing anthers only at apex
  • Gynoecium of 3-5, (1)2- or 3-ovuled carpels; style branches as many as carpels, filiform; stigmas capitate
  • Fruit a ± globular schizocarp with 3-5 beaked mericarps ± divided transversally into 2 compartments by an oblique constriction of lateral walls, usually with 2 seeds in upper and 1 in lower compartment
  • Seeds subglobose, pubescent
  • x = 7 (8)

Nomenclature:

  • Wissadula Medik.
    • Medikus: 24 (1787)
    • Meeuse: 499 (1960)
    • Roessler: 32 (1969)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 40 mainly in tropical America
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Wissadula rostrata (Schumach.) Hook.f., Namibia and subtropical Mpumalanga

References:

  • MEDIKUS, F.K. 1787. Über einige künstliche Geschlechter aus der Malven-Familie . Akademische Buchhandlung, Mannheim
  • MEEUSE, A.D.J. 1960. In A.W. Exell, Malvaceae . Flora zambesiaca 1
  • ROESSLER, H. 1969. Malvaceae (in part). Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 82