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Electronic Flora of South Australia family Fact Sheet

Orobanchaceae

Alternative names: Not Applicable

Description:
Perennial, biennial or annual herbs without chlorophyll, parasitic on roots of other plants; stems erect; leaves alternate, scale-like; stipules 0.

Flowers bisexual, in a terminal spike; bracteoles 0; calyx of 4 or 5 parts unequally united to form 2 free segments (sepals); corolla tubular, bilabiate, 5-lobed; stamens 4, in pairs of unequal length, inserted on the corolla tube; anthers 2-celled, often basally awned, dehiscing by slits; ovary superior, 1-celled, with parietal placentation, the stigma 2-lobed.

Fruit a capsule; seeds numerous, small, endospermous.

Distribution:  13 genera and about 180 species, largely in north-temperate regions. (G. Beck-Mannagetta (1930) Pflanzenr. 96 (4.261):1-348.)

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: The family is very closely allied to the tribe Euphrasieae of Scrophulariaceae, with at least one genus able to be placed in either.

Author: Prepared by W. R. Barker


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