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

Eriocaulaceae - Syngonanthus Ruhland

Description :

  • Small, tufted perennial herbs
  • Roots white-spongy, with latticed appearance
  • Leaves basal and tufted
  • Capitula on hairy or glabrescent, erect scapes, which are sheathed at base; involucral bracts few or usually 0; receptacle hairy
  • Male flowers : sepals 3, ± free, ciliate; petals forming a funnel-shaped, 3-lobed, glabrous, inrolled tube; anthers 2-thecous
  • Female flowers : sepals as in male flowers; petals fused in middle, free below and above; ovary 3-locular; style terete; stigma 3-branched, encircled by 3 epapillate appendages
  • Capsule 3-locular, thin-walled
  • Seeds ellipsoid, ribbed, minutely rostrate

Nomenclature:

  • Syngonanthus Ruhland
    • Ruhland: 487 (1900)
    • Obermeyer: 19 (1985)
    • Cook: 89 (1990)
  • Paepalanthus N.E.Br.
    • Brown: 59 (1897)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 80, mostly in South America with few in Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Syngonanthus wahlbergii (Wickstr. ex Körn.) Ruhland, Northern Province and Mpumalanga

References:

  • BROWN, N.E. 1897. Eriocauleae . Flora capensis 7
  • COOK, C.D.K. 1990. Aquatic plant book . SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague
  • OBERMEYER, A.A. 1985. Eriocaulaceae . Flora of southern Africa 4,2
  • RUHLAND, W.O.E. 1900. Eriocaulaceae . In I. Urban, Symbolae antillanae 1,3