Molluginaceae

Psammotropha Eckl. & Zeyh.

First published in Enum. Pl. Afric. Austral.: 286 (1836)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tanzania to S. Africa.

Descriptions

Molluginaceae, M. L. Gonçalves. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Perennial, often creeping, rosette or cushion herbs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, opposite or verticillate, densely crowded at base of plant, linear or narrowly lanceolate; stipules scarious.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence an umbelliform, often glomerate, terminal or axillary cyme; bracts often whorled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphrodite, pedicellate, small.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth-segments 5, herbaceous, free.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 5, hypogynous, alternate with the perianth-segments.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary of (3–)5 united carpels, (3–)5-lobed, (3–)5-locular; stigmas 3 or 5, more or less free; ovules 1 per loculus; placentation basal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit (3–)5-lobed, (3–)5-celled, a loculicidal capsule.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds orbicular-reniform, granular.
[FZ]

Aïzoaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1961

Morphology General Habit
Perennial often creeping or rosette herbs or small branched shrublets
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, opposite or verticillate, often densely crowded basally, at the nodes, or all along the stem, oblanceolate, linear, subulate or ericoid
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules scarious when present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences lax, or umbelliform and often glomerulate terminal or axillary cymes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphrodite, pedicellate, small, greenish
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 5, herbaceous, free
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 5, hypogynous, free, alternate with sepals
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary of 3–5 united carpels, 3–5-lobed, 3–5-locular; stigmas 3–5, free or united; ovules 1 per loculus, basal
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a 3–5-lobed, 3–5-celled, loculicidal capsule
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds granular.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0