e-Key v<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1710754206582_11871971239790446" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>3 - *Ly<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1710754206582_4112423651434949" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>thrum
SANBI Flora Keys Logo
Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Lythraceae - *Lythrum L.

Description:

  • Annual or perennial herbs
  • Leaves alternate, opposite or whorled
  • Inflorescence usually of solitary and subsessile cymes, these sometimes paired or small and whorl-like, sometimes aggregated into terminal spikes
  • Flowers (4-)6-merous, often trimorphically heterostylous, each flower with 2 bracteoles
  • Calyx subcylindrical; calyx appendages usually conspicuous, alternating with lobes
  • Petals usually present, arising near top of calyx tube
  • Stamens 2-12
  • Ovary sessile or subsessile, oblong, incompletely 2-locular; style included; stigma capitate
  • Capsule usually septicidally dehiscent with 2 valves, rarely dehiscing irregularly or by 4 apical teeth
  • Seeds few to many
  • x = 5 (high polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • *Lythrum L.
    • Linnaeus: 446 (1753)
    • Sonder: 516 (1862)
    • Webb: 301 (1968)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Cosmopolitan with 35 species
  • Southern Africa: Species 1: *Lythrum hyssopifolium L., adventive, mostly in the Cape region

References:

  • LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • SONDER, O.W. 1862. Lythrarieae. Flora capensis 2
  • WEBB, D.A. 1968. Lythrum L. Flora europaea 2