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

Apocynaceae - Asclepiadoideae - Asclepiadeae - Stenostelma Schltr.

Description :

  • Perennial herbs with thickened rootstock
  • Leaves shortly petiolate, linear
  • Inflorescence of very shortly pedunculate subglobose umbels lateral at nodes
  • Calyx 5-partite; segments linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, with scales within at base
  • Corolla 5-lobed; lobes green without, white within, ovate-oblong, recurved at tips and sometimes notched at apex; tube shallowly basin-shaped
  • Corona 5-lobed, arising at or near base of staminal column, exceeding corolla lobes, simple, erect, narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, keeled all down back and ± acutely triquetrous in cross section, with a rhomboid wing-like dilation on back at base, tapering above into an acute incurved-hooked apex, without an appendage on inner face; purplish
  • Anthers 2-locular, with a membranous ovate appendage
  • Pollinia pendulous, oblong or oblong-ovate; caudicles shorter than pollinia
  • Style head slightly projecting above staminal column, depressed-truncate, with 5 short, thick, fleshy lobes

Nomenclature:

  • Stenostelma Schltr.
    • Schlechter: 6 (1894)
    • Bullock: 342 (1953)
  • Krebsia Harv.
    • Harvey: 233 (1868)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Southern Africa : Species 2, Namibia and Botswana to Eastern Cape

References:

  • BULLOCK, A.A. 1953. Notes on African Asclepiadaceae : III. Kew Bulletin 9
  • HARVEY, W.H. 1868. The genera of South African plants edn 2. Juta, Cape Town
  • SCHLECHTER, F.R.R. 1894. Beiträge zur Kenntnis südafrikanischer Asclepiadaceen. Botanische Jahrbücher 18, Beiblatt 45