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

Podostemaceae - Letestuella G.Taylor

Description :

  • Roots thalloid
  • Stems elongated, branching up to 50 mm long
  • Leaves linear or forked with linear segments, up to 40 mm long, often with stipule-like teeth at base
  • Flowers solitary or in irregular clusters, subsessile at anthesis; pedicel elongating to ± 10 mm long in fruit; spathella oblong-ovoid, becoming campanulate with revolute teeth after rupturing
  • Perianth of 2 segments, one on each side of andropodium
  • Stamens (1)2; pollen in monads
  • Ovary 1-locular; stigmas 2, linear
  • Capsules globose, smooth, opening by equal and caducous valves

Nomenclature:

  • Letestuella G.Taylor
    • Taylor: 57 (1953)
    • Cusset: 207 (1980)
    • Cook: 183 (1990)
  • Leiothylax sensu Obermeyer
    • Obermeyer: 208 (1970)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Southern Africa : Species 1: Letestuella tisserantii G.Taylor, Kunene River, Namibia

References:

  • COOK, C.D.K. 1990. Aquatic plant book . SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague
  • CUSSET, C. 1980. Contribution à l'étude des Podostemaceae . Les genres Leiothylax et Letestuella . Adansonia , ser. 2, 20, 2
  • OBERMEYER, A.A. 1970. Podostemaceae . Flora of southern Africa 13
  • TAYLOR, G. 1953. Notes on the Podostemaceae for the revision of the Flora of West Tropical Africa. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Botany 1,3