[FWTA]
Gesneriaceae, B.L. Burtt. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963
- Morphology General Habit
- Acaulescent or caulescent herbs, or rarely shrubs
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves opposite (rarely alternate), those of a pair equal or unequal; plants sometimes 1-foliate and the leaf cotyledonary in origin
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
- Inflorescence generally of open axillary cymes, the flowers at each dichotomy being paired and opening serially; occasionally much congested and sub-capitate, or pseudoracemose
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
- Flowers hermaphrodite (very rarely unisexual) often protandrous, usually zygomorphic, often large and showy, sometimes cleistogamous with reduced corolla
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Calyx tubular and 5-lobed or divided to the base or 3 upper lobes only united
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Corolla gamopetalous with distinct tube, often 2-lipped, proportion of lobes to tube variable; lobes imbricate, and adaxial pair often interior
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
- Stamens rarely 5, usually 4 or 2, inserted on corolla-tube; anthers free or variously connate, 2-celled, opening lengthwise
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries
- Disk annular or cup-like, often lobed or undulate, rarely oblique
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium
- Ovules numerous Ovary superior, 1-celled with 2 parietal bilamellate placentas, occasionally 2-celled by their union centrally
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Fruit a capsule (often linear, sometimes spirally twisted) or a more or less fleshy berry
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seeds numerous, small, more or less ellipsoid, sometimes tailed with hair-like appendages at either end; endosperm absent or very slight
[FZ]
Gesneriaceae, O. M. Hilliard and B. L. Burtt. Flora Zambesiaca 8:3. 1988
- Morphology General Habit
- Acaulescent or caulescent herbs, or rarely shrubs
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves opposite (rarely alternate), those of a pair equal or unequal; plants sometimes unifoliate and the leaf cotyledonary in origin
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
- Inflorescence generally of open axillary cymes, the flowers at each dichotomy being paired and opening serially; occasionally much congested and sub-capitate, or pseudoracemose
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
- Flowers hermaphrodite (very rarely unisexual) often large and showy, sometimes cleistogamous with reduced corolla
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Calyx tubular and 5-lobed or divided to the base or 3 upper lobes only united
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Corolla gamopetalous with distinct tube, often bilabiate, proportion of lobes to tube variable; lobes imbricate, and adaxial pair often inside
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
- Stamens usually 4 or 2, rarely 5, inserted on corolla tube; anthers free or variously connate, 2-celled, opening longitudinally
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries
- Disk annular or cup-like, often lobed or undulate, rarely oblique or absent
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium
- Ovules numerous Ovary superior, unicellular with 2 parietal bilamellate placentas, occasionally bilocular by their union centrally
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Fruit a capsule (often linear, sometimes spirally twisted) or a more or less fleshy berry
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seeds numerous, small, more or less ellipsoid, sometimes tailed with hair-like appendages at either end; endosperm absent or very slight
[NTK]
Chautems, A. (2009). Neotropical Gesneriaceae.
- Morphology
-
Description
Adapted from Weber (2004), with pollen data from E. Gasparino (unpublished thesis, 2008).
Perennial herbs with basalscaly rhizomes, tubers or fibrousroots, subshrubs, small trees, vines, climbers or epiphytes. Leavessimple, opposite or in whorls, rarely alternate; green, sometimes reddish or with wine-red blotch on abaxial face, stomata scattered or in groups. Inflorescences of pair-flowered axillary cymes , pedunculate or epedunculate, bracteolate or ebracteolate, one to many-flowered. Flowers gamopetalous, zygomorphic, rarely actinomorphic, of various shapes, white or brightly colored. Stamens 4, rarely 5, staminode usually present, anthers cohering in pairs or all together, sometimes free. Nectary annular or consisting of 2 to 5 separate glands, free from the ovary wall, rarely reduced and non-functional, or completely lacking, sometimes replaced by an osmophore near the base of the corolla. Ovarysuperior, semi- or completely inferior, usually ovoid or globose, unilocular, placentae parietal, T-shaped in cross-section. Fruit a dry or fleshy 2-(rarely 4- ) valved capsule with placentae exposed as a central cone or split in two (display capsule), or an indehiscent white or colored berry. Seeds usually without surface ornamentation of testa cells, often striate. Seedlings isocotylous.
- General Description
-
Notes on delimitation
- The family forms a monophyletic group within Lamiales.
- The subfamily Gesneroideae is exclusively neotropical.
- 7 tribes are recognized, i. e. Beslerieae (BESL), Episcieae (EPIS), Gesnerieae (GESN), Gloxinieae. (GLOX), Napeantheae (NAPE), Sinningieae (SINN) and Sphaerorrhizae (SPHAE).
- Some genera are cultivated as ornamentals (mostly indoor plants), and among the most popular are Achimenes, Codonanthe, Columnea, Gloxinia, Episcia, Kohleria, Nematanthus, Sinningia, Seemannia.
- Plants are easy to propagate by cuttings or by seeds
- They also hybridize easily within related groups and many cultivars are available.
Distribution and ecology: rain forest on mountain slopes with main diversity center between Colombia and Peru (over 400 spp.) and secondary centers in Central America (ca. 250 spp.), eastern Brazil (over 200 spp.), Guiana shield (ca. 100 spp.) and tropical Mexico (ca. 100 spp.).
Number of genera- ca. 60 genera.
- Distribution
-
Distribution in the Neotropics
Some 1200 species, ca. 60 genera in seven tribes:
- Achimenes Pers., GLOX/ 27: Mexico, C. America, Caribbean, N. South America.
- Alloplectus Mart., EPIS/ 6: NW South America, Costa Rica.
- Alsobia Hanst., EPIS/ 2: Mexico, Costa Rica.
- Amalophyllon Brandegee, GLOX/ 5: Mexico, NW South America.
- Anetanthus Hiern ex Benth., BESL/ 2: Colombia to Bolivia, C Brazil .
- Bellonia L., GESN/ 2: Cuba, Hispaniola.
- Besleria L., BESL/ 150: Widespread.
- Chrysothemis Decne., EPIS/ 6: Caribbean, Guatemala to Ecuador, Guianas, N Brazil.
- Cobananthus Wiehler, EPIS/ 1: Guatemala & Honduras.
- Codonanthe (Mart.) Hanst., EPIS/ 19: Widespread.
- Codonanthopsis Mansf., EPIS/ 4: NW South America, N Brazil, Guianas.
- Columnea L., EPIS/ 200: Mexico to Bolivia, Guianas, Caribbean, E Brazil.
- Corytoplectus Oerst., EPIS/11: NW South America to Bolivia, Guyana, N Brazil.
- Crantzia Scop., EPIS/ 4: Venezuela, Guyana, Caribbean.
- Cremersia Feuillet & L. E. Skog, EPIS/ 1: French Guiana.
- Cremosperma Benth., BESL/ 21: Costa Rica to Peru.
- Cremospermopsis L. E. Skog & L. P. Kvist, NAPE/ 2: Colombia.
- Diastema Benth., GLOX/ 21: Mexico, NW South America.
- Drymonia Mart., EPIS/ 70: Widespread.
- Episcia Mart., EPIS/ 8: Mexico to Peru, N Brazil, Guianas.
- Eucodonia Hanst., GLOX/ 2: Mexico.
- Gasteranthus Benth., BESL/ 38: Mexico to Bolivia.
- Gesneria L., GESN/ 55: Caribbean.
- Glossoloma Hanst., EPIS/ 22: Mexico to Bolivia.
- Gloxinella Roalson & Boggan, GLOX/ 1: Peru.
- Gloxinia L'Her., GLOX/ 3: C & S America, Caribbean.
- Gloxiniopsis Roalson, GLOX & Boggan/ 1: Colombia.
- Goyazia Taub., GLOX/ 2: C Brazil.
- Heppiella Regel, GLOX/ 4: NW S America, Venezuela.
- Kohleria Regel, GLOX/ 20: Mexico, NW South America, Caribbean.
- Lampadaria Feuiilet & L. E. Skog, EPIS/ 1: Guyana.
- Lembocarpus Leeuwenb., EPIS/ 1: French Guiana, Surinam.
- Mandirola Decne., GLOX/ 3 : C Brazil.
- Monopyle Moritz ex Benth., GLOX/ 18: Guatemala to NW South America.
- Moussonia Regel, GLOX/ 12: Mexico to Panama.
- Napeanthus Gardner, NAPE/ 18: Mexico to South America.
- Nautilocalyx Linden ex Hanst., EPIS/ 51: Widespread.
- Nematanthus Schrad., EPIS/ 30: E Brazil.
- Neomortonia Wiehler, EPIS/ 2: Mexico, C. America to Ecuador.
- Niphaea Lindl., GLOX/ 4: Mexico, C America.
- Oerstedina Wiehler, EPIS/ 3: Mexico, C America.
- Paliavana Vand., SINN/ 6: E Brazil.
- Paradrymonia Hanst., EPIS/ 38: Mexico to Bolivia, Guianas, N Brazil.
- Pearcea Regel, GLOX/ 17: Colombia to Bolivia.
- Pheidonocarpa L.E.Skog, GESN/ 1: Cuba, Jamaica.
- Phinaea Benth., GLOX/ 3: Mexico, NW South America, Caribbean, N Brazil.
- Reldia Wiehler, BESL/ 5: Costa Rica to Peru.
- Resia H.E.Moore, NAPE / 2: Colombia, Venezuela.
- Rhoogeton Leeuwenb., EPIS/ 2: Venezuela, Guyana.
- Rhynchoglossum Blume, Epithematoid/ 1: Mexico to Honduras, Costa Rica to Peru (only genus belonging to the paleotropical Epithematoid group with one species ocurring in the Neotropics).
- Rhytidophyllum Mart., GESN/ 18: Caribbean.
- Rufodorsia Wiehler, EPIS/ 4: Nicaragua to Panama.
- Seemannia Regel, GLOX/ 4: Ecuador to N Argentina, Brazil.
- Sinningia Nees, SINN/ 72: Mexico to S America.
- Smithiantha Kuntze, GLOX/ 6: Mexico.
- Solenophora Benth., GLOX/ 16: Mexico to Panama.
- Sphaeorrhiza Roalson & Boggan, SPHAE/ 3: C. Brazil.
- Tylopsacas Leeuwenb., BESL/ 1: Venezuela, Guyana.
- Vanhouttea Lem., SINN/9: E Brazil.
- Diagnostic
-
Distinguishing characters (always present)
- Inflorescence formed by an indeterminate thyrse with axillary pair-flowered cymes.
- Ovary unilocular with lateral/parietal, T-shaped placentae.
- Anthers often cohering at apex or side by side.
- Stipules never present, leaves never compound (vs. Bignoniaceae with compoubd leaves).
- Latex never present (vs. Campanulaceae which usually has white latex).
- See Weber (2004); an addition to this classification was made with the newly recognized tribe Spaerorrhizae (Roalson et al, 2005)
Achimenes, Gloxinia, Kohleria, Seemannia:
- Flowers mostly reddish or purple.
- Like other members of tribe Gloxinieae they possess perennialscaly rhizomes.
Codonanthe:
- Flowers white.
- Epiphytic.
- Like many members of tribe Episcieae with fleshy leaves, sometimes growing in ant-gardens, and white flowers.
Columnea:
- Strongly bilabiate and brightly colored corolla representing typical humming-bird flowers.
Nematanthus:
- Ventricose and brightly colored flowers, often resupinate.
Sinningia:
- Usually with well-developed basal tubers.
- Literature
-
Important literature
Roalson, E. H., J. K. Boggan, L. E. Skog. 2005. Reorganization of tribal and generic boundaries in the Gloxinieae (Gesneriaceae: Gesnerioideae) and the description of a new tribe in the Gesnerioideae, Sphaerorrhizae. Selbyana 25: 225-238.
Skog, L. E & Boggan, J, (2006). A new classification of the western hemisphere Gesneriaceae, Gesneriads 3: 12-19.
Souza, V. C & Lorenzi, H. (2008). Botánica sistemâtica, 2nd edition. Instituto Plantarum, Nova Odessa-SP, Brazil., p. 561-565.
Weber, A. in Kubitzki, K. (ed.) (2004), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. 7, Dicotyledons, Lamiales (except Acanthaceae incl. Avicenniaceae), vol. ed. J. W. Kadereit, Berlin/Heidelberg, Springer, p. 63-158.
Weber, A. & L.E. Skog (2007 onw.): The genera of Gesneriaceae. Basic information with illustration of selected species. Ed. 2. http://www.genera-gesneriaceae.at/ [website with main features of each genus described; including good illustrations]
For additional illustrations and information on the Gesneriaceae family see "The Gesneriad Reference Web" by Ron Myhr at http://www.gesneriads.ca/
[FTEA]
Gesneriaceae, Ian Darbyshire. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2006
- Morphology General Habit
- Monocarpic, annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubs, caulescent or acaulescent
- Morphology Leaves
- Leaves opposite, pairs equal to unequal, more rarely alternate, sometimes unifoliate with the lamina of cotyledonary origin
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
- Inflorescences axillary or rarely terminal, cymose, often laxly so, the flowers of each dichotomy paired, occasionally congested and capitate, rarely racemoid
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
- Flowers nearly always hermaphrodite, often showy, more rarely cleistogamous with a reduced corolla
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
- Calyx divided to the base into five sepals, or tubular and five-lobed, sometimes the three upper lobes only united
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
- Corolla gamopetalous, tubular, lobes usually 5, imbricate, often arranged in a bilabiate limb
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
- Stamens usually two or four, rarely five, adnate to the corolla tube.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes
- Staminodes present or absent.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
- Anthers bithecous, opening by longitudinal slits, free or variously connate
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
- Disk annular or cupular, often lobed or undulate, occasionally absent
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
- Ovary superior, unilocular
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary Placenta
- Placentation parietal, each placenta bilamellate, these occasionally becoming fused centrally, the capsule then appearing biolocular.
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary Ovules
- Ovules numerous
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
- Fruit a capsule, often linear, sometimes spirally twisted, or a fleshy berry
- Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
- Seeds numerous, small, ellipsoid or fusiform, sometimes with hair-like appendages at each end; endosperm absent or very slight.
- Ecology
- They often favour shaded habitats and are frequently epiphytic or lithophytic.
- Note
- African genera belong to the subfamily Cyrtandroideae and either occur in Asia or have affinity with genera there. They are not closely related to the genera of the Neotropics; characters unique to that region are therefore omitted from the above family description.
- Distribution
- Range: The African Violet family has some 140 genera (7 in mainland Africa) and approximately 2900 species, mainly in the tropics and subtropics but with a few genera in temperate Eurasia.
- Achimenes P.Browne
- Aeschynanthus Jack
- Agalmyla Blume
- Allocheilos W.T.Wang
- Alloplectus Mart.
- Allostigma W.T.Wang
- Alsobia Hanst.
- Amalophyllon Brandegee
- Anetanthus Hiern ex Benth. & Hook.f.
- Anna Pellegr.
- Asteranthera Hanst.
- Beccarinda Kuntze
- Bellonia L.
- Besleria Plum. ex L.
- Billolivia D.J.Middleton
- Boea Comm. ex Lam.
- Boeica C.B.Clarke
- Bournea Oliv.
- Briggsiopsis K.Y.Pan
- Cathayanthe Chun
- Centrosolenia Benth.
- Championia Gardner
- Chautemsia A.O.Araujo & V.C.Souza
- Chayamaritia D.J.Middleton & Mich.Möller
- Christopheria J.F.Sm. & J.L.Clark
- Chrysothemis Decne.
- Codonanthe (Mart.) Hanst.
- Codonanthopsis Mansf.
- Codonoboea Ridl.
- Columnea Plum. ex L.
- Conandron Siebold & Zucc.
- Corallodiscus Batalin
- Coronanthera Vieill. ex C.B.Clarke
- Corytoplectus Oerst.
- Crantzia Scop.
- Cremersia Feuillet & L.E.Skog
- Cremosperma Benth.
- Cremospermopsis L.E.Skog & L.P.Kvist
- Cubitanthus Barringer
- Cyrtandra J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
- Damrongia Kerr ex Craib
- Deinostigma W.T.Wang & Z.Y.Li
- Depanthus S.Moore
- Diastema Benth.
- Didissandra C.B.Clarke
- Didymocarpus Wall.
- Didymostigma W.T.Wang
- Dorcoceras Bunge
- Drymonia Mart.
- Emarhendia Kiew, A.Weber & B.L.Burtt
- Episcia Mart.
- Epithema Blume
- Eucodonia Hanst.
- Fieldia A.Cunn.
- Gasteranthus Benth.
- Gesneria Plum. ex L.
- Glabrella Mich.Möller & W.H.Chen
- Glossoloma Hanst.
- Gloxinella (H.E.Moore) Roalson & Boggan
- Gloxinia L'Hér.
- Gloxiniopsis Roalson & Boggan
- Goyazia Taub.
- Gyrocheilos W.T.Wang
- Gyrogyne W.T.Wang
- Haberlea Friv.
- Hemiboea C.B.Clarke
- Henckelia Spreng.
- Heppiella Regel
- Hexatheca C.B.Clarke
- Jerdonia Wight
- Kaisupeea B.L.Burtt
- Kohleria Regel
- Lampadaria Feuillet & L.E.Skog
- Lembocarpus Leeuwenb.
- Leptoboea Benth.
- Lesia J.L.Clark & J.F.Sm.
- Liebigia Endl.
- Litostigma Y.G.Wei, F.Wen & Mich.Möller
- Loxocarpus R.Br.
- Loxonia Jack
- Loxostigma C.B.Clarke
- Lysionotus D.Don
- Mandirola Decne.
- Metapetrocosmea W.T.Wang
- Michaelmoelleria F.Wen, Y.G.Wei & T.V.Do
- Microchirita (C.B.Clarke) Yin Z.Wang
- Middletonia C.Puglisi
- Mitraria Cav.
- Monophyllaea R.Br.
- Monopyle Moritz ex Benth. & Hook.f.
- Moussonia Regel
- Napeanthus Gardner
- Nautilocalyx Linden ex Hanst.
- Negria F.Muell.
- Nematanthus Schrad.
- Neomortonia Wiehler
- Niphaea Lindl.
- Nomopyle Roalson & Boggan
- Orchadocarpa Ridl.
- Oreocharis Benth.
- Ornithoboea C.S.P.Parish ex C.B.Clarke
- Pachycaulos J.L.Clark & J.F.Sm.
- Pagothyra (Leeuwenb.) J.F.Sm. & J.L.Clark
- Paliavana Vell. ex Vand.
- Paraboea (C.B.Clarke) Ridl.
- Paradrymonia Hanst.
- Parakohleria Wiehler
- Pearcea Regel
- Peltanthera Benth.
- Petrocodon Hance
- Petrocosmea Oliv.
- Pheidonocarpa L.E.Skog
- Phinaea Benth.
- Platystemma Wall.
- Primulina Hance
- Pseudochirita W.T.Wang
- Rachunia D.J.Middleton & C.Puglisi
- Ramonda Rich.
- Raphiocarpus Chun
- Reldia Wiehler
- Resia H.E.Moore
- Rhabdothamnopsis Hemsl.
- Rhabdothamnus A.Cunn.
- Rhoogeton Leeuwenb.
- Rhynchoglossum Blume
- Rhynchotechum Blume
- Rhytidophyllum Mart.
- Ridleyandra A.Weber & B.L.Burtt
- Rufodorsia Wiehler
- Sanango G.S.Bunting & J.A.Duke
- Sarmienta Ruiz & Pav.
- Seemannia Regel
- Senyumia Kiew, A.Weber & B.L.Burtt
- Sepikea Schltr.
- Shuaria D.A.Neill & J.L.Clark
- Sinningia Nees
- Smithiantha Kuntze
- Solenophora Benth.
- Somrania D.J.Middleton
- Spelaeanthus Kiew, A.Weber & B.L.Burtt
- Sphaerorrhiza Roalson & Boggan
- Stauranthera Benth.
- Streptocarpus Lindl.
- Tetraphylloides Doweld
- Titanotrichum Soler.
- Tribounia D.J.Middleton
- Trichodrymonia Oerst.
- Tylopsacas Leeuwenb.
- Vanhouttea Lem.
- Whytockia W.W.Sm.
Gesneriaceae Rich. & Juss. appears in other Kew resources:
First published in Essai Propr. Méd. Pl. ed. 2: 192. 1816 [4–11 Mai 1816] (1816)
Accepted by
- APG IV (2016) http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/boj.12385
-
Colombian resources for Plants made Accessible
ColPlantA 2021. Published on the Internet at http://colplanta.org
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
-
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
-
Flora of West Tropical Africa
Flora of West Tropical Africa
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
-
Neotropikey
Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0