Lippia L.

Verbenaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1992

Morphology General Habit

Erect shrubs, subshrubs or perennial herbs, mostly pyrophytes from large woody rootstocks, pubescent or hairy; dioecious in species 11

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3–4, rarely alternate, entire or variously crenate, toothed or lobed, often scabrid above and rugose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small, sessile in mostly pedunculate dense heads or spikes which sometimes elongate in fruit, 1–several heads per axil and sometimes forming terminal panicles but often in numerous lower axils; each flower supported by a bract; eventual bare rhachis with floral scars very closely placed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate or compressed and laterally 2-keeled or 2-winged, undulate, truncate, 2–4-fid or 4-toothed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, greenish or creamy yellow, often darker at the throat, more rarely magenta; tube cylindric or funnel-shaped, straight or curved; limb ± 2-lipped, oblique, the anterior lip larger than the posterior

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, didynamous, inserted in the corolla-tube, included or slightly exserted

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 2-locular, each locule with 1 ovule; style usually short with oblique or recurved stigma

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit dry, surrounded by the adpressed calyx, separating into 2 pyrenes at maturity; pericarp papery or hard

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds without endosperm.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs, subshrubs or perennial herbs, sometimes dioecious

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3–4, entire, toothed or lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers in dense heads or spikes, each flower subtended by a bract

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx undulate, truncate or 4-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Tube cylindric or funnel-shaped, straight or curved; limb ± 2-lipped

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, included or slightly exserted

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 2-celled, each cell with 1 ovule; stigma oblique

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit dry, surrounded by the appressed calyx, separating into 2 nutlets at maturity.

Distribution

More than 170 species, the majority in South and Central America.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol 8, Pt 7. Avicenniaceae, R. Fernandes. Nesogenaceae, M.A. Diniz. Verbenaceae, R. Fernandes. Lamiaceae, R. Fernandes. 2005.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences spicate; spikes densely flowered, usually short and head-like in flower, often somewhat elongate and cylindric in fruit, 1–several per axil and sometimes forming terminal corymbs or panicles Inflorescences spicate; spikes densely flowered, usually short and head-like in flower, often somewhat elongate and cylindric in fruit, 1–several per axil and sometimes forming terminal corymbs or panicles.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 2-locular, each locule l-ovulate; style usually short, with an oblique or recurved stigma

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds without endosperm. Seeds without endosperm.

Distribution

A genus of about 207 species of warmer regions, mainly of South and Central America but many also in Africa.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small, sessile, solitary in the axils of bracts, usually 4-ranked. Flowers small, sessile, solitary in the axils of bracts, usually 4-ranked

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate or compressed and laterally 2-keeled or 2-winged, undulate, truncate, 2–4-fid or 4-dentate at the apex. Calyx campanulate or compressed and laterally 2-keeled or 2-winged, undulate, truncate, 2–4-fid or 4-dentate at the apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, greenish or creamy-yellow, often darker at the throat, rarely magenta; corolla tube cylindric or funnel-shaped, straight or incurved; corolla limb weakly 2-lipped, oblique, with the anterior lip larger than the posterior one. Corolla white, greenish or creamy-yellow, often darker at the throat, rarely magenta; corolla tube cylindric or funnel-shaped, straight or incurved; corolla limb weakly 2-lipped, oblique, with the anterior lip larger than the posterior one

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4, didynamous, inserted in the corolla tube, included or slightly exserted; anthers ovate, with parallel thecae. Stamens 4, didynamous, inserted in the corolla tube, included or slightly exserted; anthers ovate, with parallel thecae

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 2-locular, each locule l-ovulate; style usually short, with an oblique or recurved stigma.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a dry schizocarp surrounded by the appressed calyx; mericarps 2, separating at maturity; pericarp papery or hard. Fruit a dry schizocarp surrounded by the appressed calyx; mericarps 2, separating at maturity; pericarp papery or hard

Morphology General Habit

Erect shrubs, undershrubs or perennial herbs, mostly pyrophytes from large woody rootstocks, often aromatic, pubescent, hairy or setose. Erect shrubs, undershrubs or perennial herbs, mostly pyrophytes from large woody rootstocks, often aromatic, pubescent, hairy or setose

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3 or 4, rarely alternate, entire, crenate, serrate, dentate or lobed. Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3 or 4, rarely alternate, entire, crenate, serrate, dentate or lobed