e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1706002740973_10224706122603111" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Al<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1706002740973_22532294178047274" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>thaea
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Malvaceae - Malveae - Althaea L.

Description:

  • Annual or perennial herbs, prostrate or erect
  • Leaves simple, rounded, deeply lobed, long-petiolate
  • Flowers axillary, solitary or in clusters of 2 or more
  • Epicalyx of 6-10 bracts fused at base
  • Calyx shallowly campanulate to cupular
  • Petals about as long as calyx, usually white
  • Staminal tube about as long as petals, divided at apex into many short filaments
  • Gynoecium of 8-12 ± free, 1-ovuled carpels; style branches as many as carpels, filiform, stigmatic surface decurrent on adaxial side
  • Fruit a depressed-globose, glabrous schizocarp of 8-12, 1-seeded, laterally compressed mericarps
  • Seeds reniform, glabrous
  • x = 7 (10, 13) (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • Althaea L.
    • Linnaeus: 686 (1753)
    • Roessler: 7 (1969)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Species 12, Europe (5) to NE Siberia
  • Southern Africa: Species 1: Althaea ludwigii L., Namibia, NW Northern Cape

References:

  • LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • ROESSLER, H. 1969. Malvaceae (in part). Prodromus einer Flora von Südwestafrika 82

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