Schizanthus Ruiz & Pav.

Solanaceae, Jennifer M Edmonds. Oliganthes, Melongena & Monodolichopus, Maria S. Vorontsova & Sandra Knapp. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2012

Morphology General Habit

Annual or biennial herbs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually alternate, usually pinnatisect, occasionally pinnate, with incised or dentate segments, membranaceous or fleshy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal many-flowered monochasial cymes; flowers zygomorphic, ‘papilionaceous’ in shape; pedicels usually erect, occasionally deflexed in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx somewhat tubular-campanulate, deeply divided into 5 calyx lobes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla with 5 unequal deeply lobed segments or lobes comprising one anterior, two lateral and two posterior which usually fused to form a keel, basal cylindrical tube long or short

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens subequal, two lateral fertile protected by the posterior keel, and three staminodes one of which often rudimentary; filaments fused to top of corolla tube, filiform above becoming thicker at point of fusion, pilose at least below; fertile anthers dorsifixed, dehiscing introsely, staminodes with vestigial anthers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 2locular, ovules numerous; style filiform, glabrous, usually exserted; stigma capitate or discoidal, inconspicuous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a smooth, many-seeded, bivalvate capsule, often dehiscing apically by two shortish slits, globose to ovoid, small

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous, subspherical to reniform, tiny, foveolate-reticulate.

Note

Between 8 and 20 species, with Hunziker’s ( l.c.) latest treatment recognising 12, all of which are endemic to Chile, although two have spread into neighbouring Argentina.