Struthiola L.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Branches

Branches 4-angled or terete, usually with prominent leaf-scars

Bracteoles

Bracteoles 2, conduplicate, usually ciliate Bracteoles 2, conduplicate, usually ciliate.

Calyx

Calyx tube cylindric, slightly widened at the apex, circumscissile above or below the top of the ovary, glabrous or hairy; lobes 4, much shorter than the tube, imbricate, the two outer slightly larger than the inner Calyx tube cylindric, slightly widened at the apex, circumscissile above or below the top of the ovary, glabrous or hairy; lobes 4, much shorter than the tube, imbricate, the two outer slightly larger than the inner.

Corolla

Petals 4, 8 or 12, erect, fleshy, exserted, each surrounded by stiff hairs arising from the base Petals 4, 8 or 12, erect, fleshy, exserted, each surrounded by stiff hairs arising from the base.

Stamens

Stamens 4, in one whorl, inserted in the throat of the calyx tube, subsessile, alternating with the calyx lobes; anthers linear to oblong, basifixed, included or slightly exserted; pollen spheroid, polyforate Stamens 4, in one whorl, inserted in the throat of the calyx tube, subsessile, alternating with the calyx lobes; anthers linear to oblong, basifixed, included or slightly exserted; pollen spheroid, polyforate.

Ovary

Ovary sessile or subsessile, 1-chambered, glabrous; disk surrounding the base of the ovary inconspicuous, cup-shaped, often lacking; style filiform, inserted laterally, half as long to almost as long as the calyx tube; stigma minute, ± capitate, papillose

Fruits

Fruit dry, included in the persistent base of the calyx tube, indehiscent Fruit dry, included in the persistent base of the calyx tube, indehiscent.

Distribution

A genus of c. 30 species, mainly in southern Africa, 3 or 4 in eastern and south-east tropical Africa.

Habit

Shrubs or undershrubs of ericoid habit. Shrubs or undershrubs of ericoid habit

Stem

Branches 4-angled or terete, usually with prominent leaf-scars.

Leaves

Leaves opposite, 3-whorled or alternate, sessile; lamina entire, linear to ± round, often ciliate on the margins, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, parallel-veined. Leaves opposite, 3-whorled or alternate, sessile; lamina entire, linear to ± round, often ciliate on the margins, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, parallel-veined

Flowers

Flowers fragrant at dusk, 4-merous, sessile, usually in the axils of the upper leaves, solitary, rarely in pairs, forming a spiciform inflorescence. Flowers fragrant at dusk, 4-merous, sessile, usually in the axils of the upper leaves, solitary, rarely in pairs, forming a spiciform inflorescence

Pistil

Ovary sessile or subsessile, 1-chambered, glabrous; disk surrounding the base of the ovary inconspicuous, cup-shaped, often lacking; style filiform, inserted laterally, half as long to almost as long as the calyx tube; stigma minute, ± capitate, papillose.

Seeds

Seed with a shiny black crustaceous testa, the micropyle forming a curved beak; endosperm scanty; embryo straight; cotyledons fleshy. Seed with a shiny black crustaceous testa, the micropyle forming a curved beak; endosperm scanty; embryo straight; cotyledons fleshy.

Thymelaeaceae, B. Peterson (University of Göteborg). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1978

Habit

Erect shrubs or undershrubs of ericoid habit

Branches

Branches 4-angled or terete, with usually prominent leaf scars

Leaves

Leaves opposite, whorled in threes, or alternate, sessile; blade simple, entire, linear to suborbicular, margins often ciliated, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, parallel-veined

Inflorescences

Inflorescence a spike

Flowers

Flowers 4-merous, sessile, usually in the axils of the upper leaves, solitary, rarely in pairs, fragrant at dusk

Bracteoles

Bracteoles 2, conduplicate, usually ciliate

Calyx

Calyx-tube cylindric, slightly widened at top, circumscissile above or below the top of the ovary, glabrous or hairy; lobes 4, much shorter than the tube, imbricate, the 2 outer slightly larger than the inner

Corolla

Petals 4, 8 (in Flora area) or 12, erect, fleshy, exserted, each surrounded by stiff hairs arising from the base

Stamens

Stamens 4, in one whorl, inserted in the throat of the calyx-tube, subsessile, alternating with the calyx-lobes; anthers linear to oblong, basi-fixed, included or slightly exserted; pollen sphaeroid, polyforate

Pistil

Ovary sessile or subsessile, 1-chambered, glabrous; disc surrounding the base of the ovary, lacking or inconspicuous, cup-shaped; style filiform, inserted laterally, half as long to almost as long as the calyx-tube; stigma minute, ± capitate, papillose

Fruits

Fruit dry, indehiscent, included in the persistent base of the calyx-tube

Seeds

Seed with shiny black, crustaceous testa, the micropyle forming a curved beak; endosperm scanty; embryo straight; cotyledons fleshy.