Petunia integrifolia (Hook.) Schinz & Thell.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 8, Part 4. Solanaceae. Gonçalves AE. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Sprawling to erect herb (low shrub), up to c.  60 cm high, sparingly to densely branched often from near the base, aromatic, densely covered with viscid-glandular hairs Sprawling to erect herb (low shrub), up to c. 60 cm high, sparingly to densely branched often from near the base, aromatic, densely covered with viscid-glandular hairs.

Morphology Branches

Branches angular or somewhat winged Branches angular or somewhat winged.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves shortly petiolate; lamina membranous, 2–5 × 0.6–3.5 cm, elliptic or ovate to lanceolate, spathulate or obovate, base cuneate, apex acute to obtuse, sometimes sub-acuminate, entire or somewhat repand, glandular hairy at least along the margins and to a varying extent on the surfaces Leaves shortly petiolate; lamina membranous, 2–5 × 0.6–3.5 cm, elliptic or ovate to lanceolate, spathulate or obovate, base cuneate, apex acute to obtuse, sometimes sub-acuminate, entire or somewhat repand, glandular hairy at least along the margins and to a varying extent on the surfaces.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers ± erect. Flowers ± erect; pedicels 1–6 cm long, slender, elongating in fruit, hairy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 1–6 cm long, slender, elongating in fruit, hairy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 10–18 mm long, hairy all over; laciniae unequal, 8–15 × 1. 5–3 mm, linear to spathulate, acute to obtuse, more densely hairy at the margins, erect or ± spreading; in fruit somewhat enlarged Calyx 10–18 mm long, hairy all over; laciniae unequal, 8–15 × 1.5–3 mm, linear to spathulate, acute to obtuse, more densely hairy at the margins, erect or ± spreading; in fruit somewhat enlarged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla deep purple (or pink to violet coloured), veined, 3.5–5 cm long, infundibuliform, single or elsewhere sometimes double; tube up to twice as long as the calyx, rather narrow, villous or hirsute outside, glabrous inside; limb 1. 5–2 cm long, 3–4.5 cm across, hairy on the nerves outside; lobes ovate or rotund, rounded to sub-acute Corolla deep purple (or pink to violet coloured), veined, 3.5–5 cm long, infundibuliform, single or elsewhere sometimes double; tube up to twice as long as the calyx, rather narrow, villous or hirsute outside, glabrous inside; limb 1.5–2 cm long, 3–4.5 cm across, hairy on the nerves outside; lobes ovate or rotund, rounded to sub-acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens subequal, one shorter and 2 slightly longer; filaments 1. 3–1. 6 cm long, attached about one-third down the corolla tube, geniculate just above the insertion; anthers bluish, c.  1. 5 mm long, deeply cordate Stamens subequal, one shorter and 2 slightly longer; filaments 1.3–1.6 cm long, attached about one-third down the corolla tube, geniculate just above the insertion; anthers bluish, c. 1.5 mm long, deeply cordate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk yellowish, 0.8 mm high, laterally sulcate, crenate-repand Disk yellowish, 0.8 mm high, laterally sulcate, crenate-repand.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 3 × 1. 5 mm, elongate-conic or subpyramidal, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 2–2.3 cm long, somewhat geniculate at the top

Ecology

Waste places and riverbanks; 1340 m.

Note

Common name: “Violet-flowered Petunia”.

Distribution

ZIM W Zimbabwe Native to South America; widely cultivated in both hemispheres as a garden ornamental, sometimes growing as garden escape.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 3 × 1.5 mm, elongate-conic or subpyramidal, glabrous; style 2–2.3 cm long, somewhat geniculate at the top.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit stramineous, c. 10 mm long, with the foveolate placenta persistent after seeds have fallen. Fruit stramineous, c.  10 mm long, with the foveolate placenta persistent after seeds have fallen

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds pale to dark brown, ± globose or globose-prismatic. Seeds pale to dark brown, ± globose or globose-prismatic