Family: Aizoaceae
Gunniopsis
Citation:
Pax, Natürl. Pflanzenfam. 3:44 (1889).
Derivation: From the genus Gunnia named after the Tasmanian botanist R. C. Gunn, 1808-1881; Greek opsis, resembling.
Synonymy: Neogunnia Pax & K. Hoffm., Natürl.. Pflanzenfam. edn 2, 16c:225 (1934); Gunnia F. Muell., Rep. Babbage Exped. 1858 9 (1859); Aizoon L., Sp. Pl. 488 (1753) subgen. Gunniopsis (Pax) Pax & K. Hoffm., Natürl. Pflanzenfam. edn 2, 16c:223 (1934).
Common name: None
Description:
Small annual or perennial shrubs or herbs, glabrous or with a scaly-papillose tomentum, branching dichotomously and with opposite more or less fleshy exstipulate leaves.
Flowers solitary or cymose, sessile or Pedicellate; perianth deeply divided into 4 lobes, valvate in bud; stamens 4 to numerous, often in 4 bundles, alternate with the perianth lobes, often rising from a disk adherent to the lower part of the perianth-tube; ovary superior or semi-inferior, 4-celled, with numerous ovules in each cell; styles 4.
Capsule enclosed in the persistent perianth, opening septicidally and sometimes simultaneously loculicidally thus appearing 8-valved; the central column bearing the fringe-like placentas and funicles on its upper half; the valves spreading apart when wet; seeds light- or dark-brown, verrucose to tuberculate.
Distribution:
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13 species, endemic to Australia. (R. S. Adamson (1959) Jl S. Afr. Bot. 25:29-50; R. J. Chinnock (1984) J: Adelaide Bot. Gard. 6:133-179.
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Biology:
No text
Taxonomic notes:
The key and some descriptions are based largely on J. Venning (1984) Fl. Aust. 4:42-50.)
Key to Species:
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2. Leaves narrow-linear to terete |
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3. Leaves and stems densely pubescent |
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G. quadrifida 5. |
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3. Leaves and stems glabrous |
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G. tenuifolia 7. |
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2. Leaves flat, linear to lanceolate or obovate |
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4. Leaves lanceolate; stems and leaves covered with peltate scales |
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G. calcarea 1. |
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4. Leaves spathulate, ovate or linear; if stems and leaves pubescent, trichomes not peltate scales |
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5. Perennials, densely pubescent |
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G. zygophylloides 8. |
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6. Papillae sparsely distributed on leaves and branches |
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G. calva 2. |
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6. Papillae numerous on leaves and branches though sometimes lacking from lower branches |
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7. Perianth yellow or white inside |
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G. papillata 4. |
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7. Perianth pink on the inside |
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G. kochii 3. |
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G. septifraga 6. |
Author:
Not yet available
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