e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1703150878325_2762385603313442" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Oxalid<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1703150878325_4614622200572771" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>aceae
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

DICOTYLEDON - ROSIDAE - GERANIALES - Oxalidaceae

Compiled by L.L. Dreyer & A.M. Makwarela

Description:

  • Stemless or caulescent herbs, mostly with bulbs, sometimes with contractile roots; sometimes annual and with fibrous roots
  • Leaves alternate or basal, palmately or pinnately compound, rarely 1-foliolate; leaflets often folded together at night; with or without stipules
  • Inflorescence cymose, sometimes umbellate or peduncles 1-flowered
  • Flowers bisexual, regular, usually with tristyly, rarely cleistogamous
  • Sepals 5, free, imbricate or occasionally valvate
  • Petals 5, clawed, mostly weakly united at base, imbricate or valvate, often contorted
  • Stamens 10 in 2 whorls; filaments slightly connate at base; anthers 2-thecous, dehiscing inwards with longitudinal slits
  • Ovary superior, 5-locular, 5-lobed, with 1-many ovules per locule on axile placentas; styles (1-)5, free; stigmas terminal, capitate, penicillate
  • Fruit a 5-lobed capsule, ejecting seeds explosively
  • Seeds 1-many, with or without endosperm

Nomenclature:

  • Oxalidaceae
    • Sonder: 312 (1860)
    • Exell: 149 (1963)
    • Schreiber: 1 (1966)
    • Thulin & Moggi: 193 (1993)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Genera ± 7, species ± 900, Africa, Madagascar, Asia and America
  • Southern Africa: Genera 2, species ± 270

References:

  • EXELL, 1963. Oxalidaceae. Flora zambesiaca 2
  • SCHREIBER, A. 1966. Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 63
  • SONDER, O.W. 1860. Oxalidaceae. Flora capensis 1
  • THULIN, M. & MOGGI, G. 1993. Oxalidaceae. Flora of Somalia 1

Resources:

  • Oxalidaceae genera:
Biophytum Oxalis