Swertia L.

Ghazanfar, S. A. & Edmondson, J. R (Eds). (2014) Flora of Iraq, Volume 5 Part 2: Lythraceae to Campanulaceae.

Morphology General Habit

Erect or rarely prostrate, annual or perennial herbs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, usually sessile, or radical and long petiolate, entire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers blue, white or rarely yellow, densely to loosely cymose, paniculate or corymbose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx deeply 4 or 5-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube very short, lobes spreading, each provided near the base with 1 or 2 fringed nectaries

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4 or 5 inserted at base of corolla

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 1-locular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style short, stigma 2-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule dehiscing by 2 valves.

Gentianaceae, Sileshi Nemomissa. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2002

Morphology General Habit

Erect, procumbent, climbing or cushion-forming annual or perennial herbs, with or without basal leaf rosettes; sometimes with thick rootstock

Morphology Stem

Stems very reduced in acaulescent rosette plants or up to 1.5 m long, branching from the base or unbranched apart from the inflorescence, 4-angled, angles smooth or minutely scabrid-denticulate usually at the nodes

Morphology Leaves

Leaves decussate or rarely whorled or alternate; basal rosette leaves falling early or persistent, with ± winged petiole or sessile (e.g. some populations of S. schimperi); cauline leaves sessile or narrowed at the base, sometimes amplexicaul, sometimes forming long sheaths, usually with 3–5 distinct dorsal veins; the base of the leaves with one row of colleters all around, at the margins or in the median

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a thyrse, botryoid or corymb, single- to many-flowered; pedicels often long and distinct

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4–5 (rarely 6–7)-merous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes divided to the base, usually ± unequal, 2–3 wider and longer than the remaining segments, persistent, with one row of colleters at the base of the inner surface

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla rotate, persistent in fruit, imbricate in aestivation (contorted to the left or sometimes paratact); tube short; lobes with 1–2 nectaries (small pits) at the base; nectaries flat or pocket-like, margins naked or fimbriate, fimbriae 4–25, free or connate at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens epipetalous with slender, subulate or dorsiventrallyflattened filaments inserted in the sinuses of corolla lobes, with or without scale-like projections at their attachment points; anthers with 2 thecae, oblong or ellipsoidal, versatile or dorsifixed, with or without apical appendages

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Gynoecium bicarpellate; style obsolete or distinct; stigma bilobed, lobes becoming more distinct in fruiting stage; ovary oblong or ovoid, unilocular, parietal placentae large, conspicuous or indistinct; ovules (few-)numerous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule light grey or purplish, dehiscing septicidally into 2 valves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds light brown or grey, few to numerous, smooth, winged or with ridge-like outgrowths, the outgrowths continuous or interrupted in outline.