Tecophilaeaceae

Walleria J.Kirk

First published in Trans. Linn. Soc. London 24: 497 (1864)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tanzania to S. Africa.

Descriptions

Tecophilaeaceae, Susan Carter. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1966

Morphology General Habit
Tubers clustered, globose, with fibrous roots, 10–15 cm. underground
Morphology Stem
Stem ridged, smooth, scabrid, or armed with recurved prickles
Morphology Leaves
Leaves all cauline, alternate, sessile or amplexicaul, linear to ovate, the midrib on the under-surface sometimes scabrid or armed with prickles
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers axillary, solitary; pedicels long, smooth, scabrid or prickly, erect or recurved; bracteoles rarely subtending a second flower
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth-segments forming a very short tube; lobes spreading but after anthesis folding up to enclose the ovary
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens all perfect; anthers linear, sometimes connivent at the tips, with an apical terminal or introrse pore; filaments filiform
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary almost superior; ovules about 8 in each loculus; style a little longer than the stamens
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule globose; seeds 2–3 in each cell, ovoid, dark red-brown and shiny, densely warted.
[FTEA]

Tecophilaeaceae, E. J. Cowley & R. K. Brummit. Flora Zambesiaca 12:3. 2001

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herb with tubers usually produced deep below ground level; tubers clustered, rounded, fleshy, with fibrous roots. Caulescent, with stems solitary, erect, occasionally branched, glabrous, longitudinally ridged; ridges smooth, scabrid or beset with scattered hooked prickles.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves cauline, many, spirally arranged, sessile, the midrib on the lower surface sometimes scabrid or armed with hooked prickles.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers few to numerous, solitary on peduncles in axils of cauline leaves, or rarely 2-3 per peduncle, sweetly scented, remaining open for a short time only; peduncles ascending or recurved, smooth, scabrid or beset with hooked prickles, with 1-2 bracts subtending a pedicellate flower.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Tepal
Tepals patent or reflexed at first, soon straightening to enclose the ovary, persistent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anthers connivent and ± adhering below the apex, or anthers free; both thecae of an anther opening by a common ± circular pore at the truncate apex, or opening introrsely by an oblique linear-elliptic pore at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 3-locular, semi-superior or superior.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule globose to oblong, 3-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 2-3 in each cell, ovoid, dark brown, warty, with hairs on the apices of the protuberances.
[FZ]

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

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 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 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0