e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1705323981314_7237759340071686" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Adh<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1705323981314_3989892311111358" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>atoda
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Acanthaceae - Acanthoideae - Justicieae - Justiciinae - Adhatoda Mill.

Description:

  • Perennial herbs with annual branches from woody rootstock
  • Leaves sessile or subsessile, mainly elliptic, entire
  • Inflorescence terminal, a thyrse composed of 1- or 2-flowered cymes; bracts and bracteoles present
  • Calyx regular; lobes 5; tube shorter than lobes
  • Corolla 2-lipped, hairy; upper lip very shortly bilobed or nearly entire, rugula distinct; lower lip 3-lobed, with middle one ovate and lateral ones oblong, with 2 cavities at base without; aestivation ascending; staminal channels present; tube subcampanulate, shorter than lobes
  • Androecium: fertile stamens 2, arising deep in corolla throat, exserted; filaments linear; anthers 2-thecous; thecae parallel, tailed; staminodes 0
  • Pollen prolate, 3-colporate, with pseudocolpi; surface reticulate
  • Disc cupular, with V-shaped slit, with 2 awns
  • Gynoecium: ovary with 1 or 2 ovules in each locule; style linear, running in rugula, exserted, hairy on lower portion; style branches 2, equal, very short, broader than long
  • Capsule stipitate, with inelastic placental bases
  • Seed surface rough and convolute or rugose
  • x = 17 (10) (aneuploids, polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Adhatoda Mill.
    • Miller: [39] (1754)
    • Manning & Getliffe Norris: 62 (1995)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Species many, Old World tropics
  • Southern Africa: Species 2, mainly KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape

References:

  • MANNING, J.C. & GETLIFFE NORRIS, F. 1995. Adhatoda. Flora of southern Africa 30,3,1
  • MILLER, P. 1754. Adhatoda. The gardener's dictionary, abr. edn 4. Rivington, London