e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1710153039859_3787968576130021" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Gu<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1710153039859_7746078576656894" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>nnera
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Gunneraceae - Gunnera L.

Description:

  • Perennial herbs, nearly stemless, mainly rhizomatous, usually associated with water, monoecious or flowers bisexual
  • Leaves radical, alternate, simple, long-petioled, ovate- to orbicular-cordate, entire, lobed or crenate; stipules adhering to petioles
  • Flowers unisexual or bisexual, small, in compound spikes, sometimes with male flowers above and female below
  • Calyx 2- or 3-lobed, or sometimes 0, or imperfect in male flowers
  • Petals (0)2, small, concave
  • Stamens 1 or 2; anthers oblong, basifixed, longer than filaments
  • Ovary inferior, 1-locular, with a solitary, pendulous ovule; styles 2, papillose
  • Fruit a fleshy or leathery drupe, compressed, 3-angled or subglobose
  • x = 17 (12)

Nomenclature:

  • Gunnera L.
    • Linnaeus: 16, 121 (1767a)
    • Linnaeus: 587, 597 (1767b)
    • Schindler: 104 (1905)
    • Mendes: 79 (1978)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Central and South America, E and southern Africa, Madagascar, Malaysia, Tasmania, New Zealand (9 species) and Hawaiian Islands (7 species)
  • Southern Africa: Species 1: Gunnera perpensa L., widespread except in Namibia

References:

  • LINNAEUS, C. 1767a. Mantissa plantarum. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • LINNAEUS, C. 1767b. Systema naturae, edn 12. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm
  • MENDES, E.J. 1978. Haloragaceae. Flora zambesiaca 4
  • SCHINDLER, A.K. 1905. Halorrhagaceae. Das Pflanzenreich 4,225 (Heft 23)

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