Family:
Basellaceae Raf.
Genus:
Basella L.

Basella excavata Elliot

This species is accepted, and its native range is W. & S. Madagascar.

[KBu]

Eriksson, R. (2007). A Synopsis of Basellaceae. Kew Bulletin, 62(2), 297-320. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20443356

Distribution
Endemic to western and southern Madagascar
Ecology
Found in open areas at low altitudes.
Morphology General Habit
Twining vine
Morphology Leaves
Leaf blades 2.5 - 6.5 x 1 - 3 cm, narrowly ovate, at base attenuate, at apex ± acute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers sunken into rachis, probably cleistogamous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers orangish
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 2 - 3 x c. 1.5 mm, + equalling petals in length, ± erect and enclosing the rest of the flower, ovate to broadly elliptic, ± free from each other, at anthesis pink or reddish
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2 - 3 x c. 1 mm, ± erect, elliptic, connate c. 1/2 of their length, at anthesis pink or reddish
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Styles 3
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit less than 1.5 mm in diam., tightly enclosed by persistent, thin and dry, probably often eventually disappearing perianth.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences up to 6 cm long, usually shorter, unbranched, with axis not thickened in fruit
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracteoles minute, triangular
Morphology Stem
Stem glabrous, or sometimes puberulent when young
Note
Basella excavata is distinguished from the closely related B. leandriana and B. madagascaniensis by its small flowers and fruits. It is incompletely known, like the other Madagascan species of Basella.
Type
Madagascar, Fort Dauphin, May, Scott Elliot 2635 (holotype K, photo GB'). Basella excavata f. pubescens H. Perrier (1950: 6), nom. inval. [ICBN 36.1 ].

Native to:

Madagascar

Basella excavata Elliot appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Scott Elliot, G.F. [2635], Madagascar K000362608 Unknown type material Yes

First published in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 29: 44 (1891)

Accepted by

  • Govaerts, R. (1996). World Checklist of Seed Plants 2(1, 2): 1-492. MIM, Deurne.

Literature

Kew Bulletin

  • Scott Elliott, G. F. (1891). New and little-known Madagascar plants, collected and enumerated by G. F Scott Elliot. Journ. Linn. Soc. 29: 1 - 77.

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Eriksson, R. (2007). A synopsis of Basellaceae Kew Bulletin 62: 297-320.

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Bulletin

    Kew Bulletin
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0