Marsypianthes Mart. ex Benth.

Harley, R.M. et al. (2004). Labiatae, in The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants (K. Kubitzki, ed. in chief) VI: 167-275. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

Morphology General Habit

Subshrubs or perennial herbs, often geoxylic, aromatic and glandular-viscid

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, toothed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence thyrsoid, of axillary cymes, pedunculate or not Cymes 1-3- to many-flowered and then in spherical heads

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts present, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate to linear, in many-flowered cymes often forming a lax involucre

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles as bracts

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers shortly pedicellate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx infundibuliform, straight, actinomorphic, 5-lobed, often purple-tinged and sometimes conspicuously so, lobes equal, broadly to narrowly deltoid, apex acute to subulate, erect or connivent at first and often becoming spreading to reflexed in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla strongly 2-lipped, 5-lobed (2/3), violet-blue, lilac or rarely cream, anterior lip with median lobe often much shorter than others, lateral lobes directed forward, tube cylindric, straight

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with-filaments hairy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style jointed, deciduous above, its persistent base fused to carpels along their inner face

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disc well-developed, almost encircling ovary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Nutlets cymbiform, dorsally smooth, convex, ventral surface fused to style base, on separation concave with involute, laciniate margin, dorsal surface weakly mucilaginous.

Note

2n = 30.  Five to six species

Ecology

Savannas and coastal dunes

Distribution

Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, with the weedy M. chamaedrys (Vahl) Kuntze from Mexico southwards and widespread in the neotropics.