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

Gentianaceae - Pycnosphaera Gilg

Description :

  • Annual or perennial herbs
  • Stems erect, unbranched or corymbosely branching at apex
  • Leaves : basal leaves oblong-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic; stem leaves from elliptic (lower ones), oblong-lanceolate (middle), to linear or linear-oblong (upper), entire
  • Inflorescence dense bracteate heads, solitary or corymbosely arranged at end of stems and branches
  • Calyx unequally 3-partite; lobes carinate
  • Corolla blue; tube cylindric, with 3 spreading lobes
  • Stamens 3; filaments filiform, arising from sinuses of corolla lobes, dilated into a small hood at their base; anthers cylindric-ovoid
  • Ovary 1-locular, narrowly ellipsoid; ovules many; style filiform; stigmas 2, linear-oblong
  • Capsule 2-valved, oblong-elliptic
  • x = 15 (1 report)

Nomenclature:

  • Pycnosphaera Gilg
    • Gilg: 333 (1903)
    • Baker & Brown: 565 (1903); Paiva & Nogueira: 47 (1990)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Monotypic: Pycnosphaera buchananii (Baker) N.E.Br., tropical Africa
  • Southern Africa : Botswana (Okavango Swamps)

References:

  • BAKER, J.G. & BROWN, N.E. 1903. Gentianeae . Flora of tropical Africa 4,1
  • GILG, E.F. 1903. Gentianaceae . In O. Warburg, Kunene-Sambesi-Expedition H. Baum . Kolonial-Wirtschafliches Komitee, Berlin
  • PAIVA, J.A.R. & NOGUEIRA, I. 1990. Gentianaceae . Flora zambesiaca 7,4