Petunia Juss.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 8, Part 4. Solanaceae. Gonçalves AE. 2005

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary subsessile, ovoid, 2-locular; ovules numerous in each locule on a placenta adnate to the dorsal line of the dissepiment, anatropous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style slender.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma

Stigma minute, capitate, slightly grooved or obsoletely 2-lobed at the tip, included

Note

Petunia axillaris (Lam.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. (Nicotiana axillaris Lam.; Petunia nyctaginiflora Juss.), the “large white petunia”, as well as Petunia integrifolia (Hook.) Schinz & Thell. and various hybrids (particularly the polymorphic Petunia hybrida Hort. ex Vilm.-Andr.), the “common garden petunia”, are grown in gardens in the Flora Zambesiaca area. P. axillaris differs from P. integrifolia (treated below) chiefly in the tall, relatively stout and commonly erect habit, rather thick leaves and white corolla with narrow tube 3–5 times as long as the calyx (Pedro 3122 (LMA) Mozambique, Maputo, Jardim Tunduru (Vasco da Gama)).

Distribution

A genus closely allied to Nicotiana, with c. 40 species widely distributed in warm and temperate regions of both hemispheres. Mostly centred in South America from Minas Gerais (Brazil) and southern Bolivia southwards to eastern Patagonia (Argentina), with

Morphology General Habit

Herbs or occasionally shrubs, erect to sprawling, with varied indumentum, often viscid and glandular-pubescent. Herbs or occasionally shrubs, erect to sprawling, with varied indumentum, often viscid and glandular-pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves solitary, alternate, the upper ones, near the inflorescence, in pairs and appearing opposite, sessile or shortly petiolate, entire, with glandular hairs; minor leaves absent. Leaves solitary, alternate, the upper ones, near the inflorescence, in pairs and appearing opposite, sessile or shortly petiolate, entire, with glandular hairs; minor leaves absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences consisting of one flower usually arising from a pair of ± equal, foliaceous bracts, but often appearing to be arranged in short, terminal pseudoracemes; pedicel articulated at the base. Inflorescences consisting of one flower usually arising from a pair of ± equal, foliaceous bracts, but often appearing to be arranged in short, terminal pseudoracemes; pedicel articulated at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers large and showy (elsewhere sometimes minute), somewhat zygomorphic. Flowers large and showy (elsewhere sometimes minute), somewhat zygomorphic

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate or cylindric-salviform, strongly 10-nerved, deeply divided to near the base, the laciniae often ± foliaceous, narrow, oblong-spathulate, with valvate aestivation; in fruit somewhat enlarged, equalling or surpassing it. Calyx campanulate or cylindric-salviform, strongly 10-nerved, deeply divided to near the base, the laciniae often ± foliaceous, narrow, oblong-spathulate, with valvate aestivation; in fruit somewhat enlarged, equalling or surpassing it

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla varying in colour from white or pale yellow to deep red-purple or violet to bluish, often variegated, infundibuliform or salviform, occasionally tubular, simple (elsewhere sometimes double); tube long, terete or ventricose, nearly or quite straight, seated loosely in the calyx, the mouth open; limb shorter than the tube, broad, plicate, patent, unequally and sinuately 5-lobed to deeply fringed (in some cultigens elsewhere), the lobes with induplicate aestivation. Corolla varying in colour from white or pale yellow to deep red-purple or violet to bluish, often variegated, infundibuliform or salviform, occasionally tubular, simple (elsewhere sometimes double); tube long, terete or ventricose, nearly or quite straight, seated loosely in the calyx, the mouth open; limb shorter than the tube, broad, plicate, patent, unequally and sinuately 5-lobed to deeply fringed (in some cultigens elsewhere), the lobes with induplicate aestivation

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 5, ± equal or unequal, often one shorter than the other 4, or didynamous, glabrous, inserted at ± the same level in the corolla tube, commonly in the basal half, included or elsewhere exserted; filaments slender, somewhat expanded towards the base, sometimes geniculate near the insertion; anthers all fertile or elsewhere one of them occasionally sterile, deeply cordate, attached on the lower part of the back or at the base between the ovoid thecae, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Stamens 5, ± equal or unequal, often one shorter than the other 4, or didynamous, glabrous, inserted at ± the same level in the corolla tube, commonly in the basal half, included or elsewhere exserted; filaments slender, somewhat expanded towards the base, sometimes geniculate near the insertion; anthers all fertile or elsewhere one of them occasionally sterile, deeply cordate, attached on the lower part of the back or at the base between the ovoid thecae, dehiscing by longitudinal slits

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk annular, fleshy, irregularly continuous or laterally sub-bilobed, adnate to and surrounding the basal part of the ovary. Disk annular, fleshy, irregularly continuous or laterally sub-bilobed, adnate to and surrounding the basal part of the ovary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary subsessile, ovoid, 2-locular; ovules numerous in each locule on a placenta adnate to the dorsal line of the dissepiment, anatropous; style slender; stigma minute, capitate, slightly grooved or obsoletely 2-lobed at the tip, included.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit capsular, ovoid, sessile, membranous, 2-locular, with a central placenta ultimately detached, apically dehiscent by 2 often short, septicidal slits, the 2 dry valves entire or 2-fid. Fruit capsular, ovoid, sessile, membranous, 2-locular, with a central placenta ultimately detached, apically dehiscent by 2 often short, septicidal slits, the 2 dry valves entire or 2-fid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous, minute, scarcely compressed, ± globose, prismatic or reniform; testa somewhat leathery, foveolate-reticulate; embryo ± straight or curved, in the axis of the fleshy endosperm. Seeds numerous, minute, scarcely compressed, ± globose, prismatic or reniform; testa somewhat leathery, foveolate-reticulate; embryo ± straight or curved, in the axis of the fleshy endosperm