e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1710508749031_4984393793895283" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Lepidag<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1710508749031_8518731956295422" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>athis
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Acanthaceae - Acanthoideae - Ruellieae - Petalidiinae - Lepidagathis Willd.

Description:

  • Perennial herbs or undershrubs
  • Leaves entire to faintly crenate
  • Inflorescence axillary, monochasial cymes, sometimes congested, sometimes somewhat spinescent; bracts present; bracteoles 0
  • Calyx subregular; lobes 5, unequal, usually with posticous one longer and broader than others and with lateral ones often pointed or spinescent; tube shorter than lobes
  • Corolla 2-lipped; upper lip ovate-oblong, emarginate, rugula distinct; lower lip 3-lobed, with 2 deep channels on outside; aestivation imbricate; tube longer than lobes, cylindric below, broadened above, often with stiff, deflexed hairs at top of cylindric part
  • Androecium: fertile stamens 4, didynamous; filaments arising in pairs ± in middle of corolla tube, slightly exserted, linear; anthers 2-thecous or rarely those of posticous stamens monothecous; thecae parallel, muticous; staminodes 0
  • Pollen prolate, 3-colporate, with pseudocolpi; surface with shallow reticulations
  • Disc annular
  • Gynoecium: ovary with (1)2 ovules in each locule, usually hairy at tip; style terete, slightly exserted, running in rugula; style branch 1, ventral lobe flattened and expanded
  • Capsule ovoid or elliptic, estipitate, with inelastic placental bases
  • Seeds ovoid or suborbicular, with hygroscopic hairs over whole surface
  • x = 10, 11 (12) (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Lepidagathis Willd.
    • Willdenow: 400 (1800)
    • Clarke: 120 (1899)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Species ± 100, fairly cosmopolitan in warm and tropical areas
  • Southern Africa: Species 2, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and northern and eastern provinces of South Africa

References:

  • BURKILL, I.H. & CLARKE, C.B. 1899. Acanthaceae. Flora of tropical Africa 5
  • CLARKE, C.B. 1899. see BURKILL & CLARKE. 1899
  • WILLDENOW, C.L. 1800. Phaulopsis, Lepidagathis. Caroli a Linné Species plantarum 3. Nauk, Berlin