Acanthaceae

Ruspolia Lindau

First published in H.G.A.Engler & K.A.E.Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 4(3b): 354 (1895)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & S. Africa, Madagascar.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Small shrubs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, entire
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers in spikes or panicles; bracts and bracteoles narrow and inconspicuous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx deeply 5-lobed; lobes narrow, sometimes with thread-like tips
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla-tube narrowly cylindrical; limb subequally 5-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2, just exserted; anthers 1-celled
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 2-celled with 2 ovules in each cell, glabrous; style filiform, exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule club-shaped
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds smooth and glabrous or variously ornamented.
Distribution
Genus of four species in tropical Africa.
[FSOM]

Flora Zambesiaca Acanthaceae (part 2) by Iain Darbyshire, Kaj Vollesen and Ensermu Kelbessa

Morphology General Habit
Shrubby herbs or shrubs; cystoliths conspicuous, linear; stems subquadrangular or rounded.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, entire or slightly crenate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers single or in 3–7-flowered cymules aggregated into long racemoid cymes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracteoles present, narrowly triangular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx deeply divided into 5 equal linear-lanceolate to filiform lobes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla hairy and/or glandular on outside; basal tube long, linear, only slightly widened into a short throat; lobes 5, subequal or wider in lower lip, all spreading or deflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 2, inserted at base of throat and held dorsally there, usually slightly exserted, glabrous; anthers monothecous, straight or slightly curved, apiculate or rounded, glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary with 2 ovules per locule; style glabrous; stigma of 2 equal, broadly ellipsoid erect lobes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule (2)4-seeded, clavate with contracted solid stalk-like basal part, glabrous, seed-bearing part ellipsoid, laterally flattened; retinacula strong, hooked.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds discoid, inner and outer surfaces different, with a strong raised marginal rim.
Distribution
A genus of 5 species, 4 in tropical Africa with one extending to Madagascar, one endemic in Madagascar.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0