CAPRIFOLIACEAE.
FLOW. PL. AFR.
Pl. 145.
J. Fleischmann del.
Viburnum rugosum Pers.
A Flowering branch. B Flower. C Lower part of the flower cut lengthwise. D Fruit. E Cross-section of fruit.
VALERIANACEAE.
FLOW. PL. AFR.
Pl. 146.
J. Fleischmann del.
Valeriana capensis Vahl
A Aboveground part of the plant. B Flower. C Anther. D Flower cut lengthwise (without the anthers). E Stigma. F Fruit. G Seed cut lengthwise.
154. Flowers 5-merous. Corolla shortly funnel-shaped. Anthers included.
Style 2-cleft. Fruit opening loculicidally at the apex. Herbs. Stipules
entire or toothed. Flowers in lax cymes.—Species 1. Tropical
and South-east Africa. (Under Oldenlandia Plum.) Pentodon Hochst.
Flowers 4-merous, very rarely 5-merous, but then solitary or in pairs
or style simple. 155
155. Fruit opening by a lid, few-seeded. Flowers 4-merous. Corolla rotate.
Placentas globose, with 3-4 ovules. Undershrubs. Flowers in
terminal fascicles.—Species 1. Northern East Africa (Somaliland). Mitratheca K. Schum.
Fruit opening lengthwise or remaining closed.—Species 120. Some of
them yield vegetables, dyes, or medicaments. (Including Hedyotis L.
and Pentanopsis Rendle). Oldenlandia Plum.
FAMILY 220. CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Leaves opposite. Flowers hermaphrodite. Sepals 5, united below. Petals 5, united below. Stamens 5, inserted on the corolla. Ovary inferior. Ovules axile, pendulous. Fruit a berry or a drupe. Seeds with a straight embryo and fleshy albumen.—Genera 4, species 15. North and East Africa. (Plate 145.)
1. Ovary 1-celled when fully developed. Ovule 1. Style very short, 3-parted.
Anthers turned inwards. Flowers in corymbs, regular,
at least the inner ones. Fruit a drupe with a 1-seeded stone. Shrubs
or trees. Leaves entire, toothed, or lobed.—Species 4. North Africa.
They yield timber and medicaments or serve as ornamental plants, so
especially the guelder-rose (V. Opulus L.) and the laurustinus (V. tinus
L.); the latter has poisonous fruits. (Plate 145.) [Tribe VIBURNEAE.] Viburnum L.
Ovary 2-5-celled. Ovules 2 or more. Fruit a drupe with 3-5 stones
or a several-seeded berry. 2
2. Ovary with 1 ovule in each cell. Style very short, 3-5-parted. Anthers
turned outwards. Corolla rotate. Flowers regular, in panicles or
corymbs. Fruit a drupe. Leaves pinnately dissected.—Species 4.
North and East Africa; one species (S. nigra L.) only naturalized. The
latter yields wood, pith, oil, edible fruits, and medicaments; another
species is poisonous. “Elder.” [Tribe SAMBUCEAE.] Sambucus L.
Ovary with 2 or more ovules in each cell. Style long. Anthers turned
inwards. Flowers more or less irregular. Fruit a berry. Leaves
entire, toothed, or lobed. Shrubs. [Tribe LONICEREAE.] 3
3. Ovary 2-3-celled.—Species 6. North-west Africa. Some are used as
ornamental or medicinal plants. “Honeysuckle.” Lonicera L.
Ovary 5-celled. Fruit many-seeded.—Species 1. Naturalized in the
Azores. An ornamental plant. Leycesteria Wall.
FAMILY 221. VALERIANACEAE
Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves opposite or all radical, without stipules. Inflorescence cymose. Calyx not distinctly developed at the time of flowering. Petals 5, united below. Stamens 1-3, attached to the corolla-tube. Anthers turned inwards. Ovary inferior, with 3 cells, two of which are empty and sometimes rudimentary. Ovule 1, pendulous, inverted. Style simple; stigma entire or 3-parted. Seed exalbuminous; embryo straight.—Genera 4, species 35. (Plate 146.)
1. Stamen 1. Corolla spurred. Calyx-limb developing into a feathery
pappus crowning the fruit. Fruit 1-celled.—Species 5. North Africa.
Used as ornamental plants. Centranthus DC.
Stamens 2-3. Corolla not spurred, but sometimes gibbous. 2
2. Stamens 2, more rarely 3, two of which are united. Corolla 2-lipped;
tube long, with a minute gibbosity near the base. Calyx-limb toothed.
Branches of the inflorescence thickened.—Species 4. North-west
Africa. Fedia Moench
Stamens 3, free. Corolla not 2-lipped. 3
3. Calyx-limb rolled inwards at the time of flowering, developing afterwards
into a pappus of feathery bristles. Fruit 1-celled. Corolla-tube usually
gibbous. Perennial herbs or undershrubs. Leaves divided.—Species
5. North-west, East, and South Africa. Used as medicinal or ornamental
plants. (Plate 146.) Valeriana L.
Calyx-limb entire or toothed. Corolla-tube without a distinct gibbosity.
Annual herbs.—Species 20. North and South Africa and northern
East Africa. Some species, especially V. olitoria Poll., are used as
salad. “Cornsalad.” Valerianella Haller
FAMILY 222. DIPSACACEAE
Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves opposite, without stipules. Flowers in heads; each flower with an epicalyx embracing the ovary. Petals 4-5, united below. Stamens 2-4. Anthers turned inwards. Ovary inferior, 1-celled. Ovule 1, pendulous, inverted. Style simple; stigma entire or 2-parted. Fruit enclosed by the epicalyx, dry, indehiscent. Seed albuminous; embryo straight.—Genera 7, species 50. (Plate 147.)
1. Involucral bracts in many rows, imbricate, usually stiff and smaller than the
scales of the receptacle. Calyx-teeth numerous. Corolla-lobes 4.
Stigma entire.—Species 15. (Plate 147.) Cephalaria Schrad.
Involucral bracts in 1-3 rows. 2
2. Involucral bracts united. Epicalyx with 8 pits near the apex. Calyx-teeth
5. Stigma entire.—Species 2. North-west Africa. (Under
Scabiosa L.) Pycnocomon Hoffmsg. & Link
Involucral bracts free. 3
DIPSACACEAE.
FLOW. PL. AFR.
Pl. 147.
J. Fleischmann del.
Cephalaria rigida (Spreng.) Schrad.
A Flowering blanch. B Flower with epicalyx and bract. C Lower part of the flower cut lengthwise.
CUCURBITACEAE.
FLOW. PL. AFR.
Pl. 148.
J. Fleischmann del.
Momordica Charantia L.
A Flowering branch. B Male flower cut lengthwise. C Sepal. D Anther. E Female flower cut lengthwise. F Staminode. G Cross-section of ovary. H Fruit. I Seed. (H from Curtis’ Botanical Magazine, plate 2455.)
3. Scales of the receptacle stiff and pointed. Calyx-teeth usually 4. Stem
prickly or bristly.—Species 5. North and East Africa. Several species
are used in the manufacture of cloth and in medicine. “Teasel.” Dipsacus L.
Scales of the receptacle herbaceous or replaced by hairs. Stem glabrous or
hairy, rarely bristly. 4
4. Scales of the receptacle nearly as large as the flowers. Epicalyx with 8
longitudinal furrows. Calyx-teeth 5. Stigma entire.—Species 2.
North-west Africa and Cameroons. They yield dyes and medicaments.
(Under Scabiosa L.) Succisa Coult.
Scales of the receptacle much smaller than the flowers or replaced by
hairs. 5
5. Calyx-teeth 4-6. Stigma 2-parted. Epicalyx with 8 longitudinal
furrows or ribs and a saucer-shaped limb. Receptacle scaly.—Species
18. Some of them are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. Scabiosa L.
Calyx-teeth 8-24. 6
6. Calyx-teeth 8. Epicalyx without distinct furrows or ribs, and with a
narrow, toothed limb. Receptacle hairy.—Species 2. North-west
Africa. Used as ornamental or medicinal plants. (Under Scabiosa L.) Knautia Coult.
Calyx-teeth 12-24. Epicalyx with 8 longitudinal furrows and a saucer-shaped
limb.—Species 6. North Africa and Abyssinia. (Under
Scabiosa L.) Pterocephalus Vaill.
ORDER CAMPANULATAE
SUBORDER CUCURBITINEAE
FAMILY 223. CUCURBITACEAE
Nearly always prostrate or climbing and tendril-bearing plants. Leaves broad, usually with pedate nervation. Flowers unisexual or polygamous, regular or nearly so, 5-merous. Calyx of united sepals. Stamens 4-5, four of them united in pairs, rarely all united or all free. Anthers usually opening outwards. Ovary inferior. Ovules inverted. Style undivided or cleft. Fruit berry-like, but sometimes dehiscent, more rarely dry and indehiscent. Seeds with a leathery or woody testa and a straight embryo, without albumen.—Genera 42, species 270. (Plate 148.)
1. Filaments all united into a column. [Tribe SICYOIDEAE.] 2
Filaments free or united at the base or in pairs. 5
2. Anthers 2-3, horizontal, straight or slightly curved. Staminal column
very short. Male flowers in panicles, yellowish. Tendrils 2-cleft.—Species
1. East Africa. (Under Gerrardanthus Harv.) Cyclantheropsis Harms
Anthers 3-5, erect and much curved or twisted. 3
3. Flowers usually dioecious, the female with staminodes. Ovules numerous,
horizontal. Herbs. Tendrils simple or 2-cleft. Female flowers solitary.—Species
30. Central and South Africa. Some species have edible
fruits or serve as ornamental or medicinal plants. (Cephalandra Schrad.) Coccinia Wight & Arn.
Flowers monoecious, the female without staminodes. Ovule 1, pendulous.
Tendrils 3-5-cleft. Male flowers in racemes or panicles. 4
4. Female flowers solitary or in pairs. Anthers free. Fruit large, fleshy.
Shrubs. Flowers whitish.—Species 1 (S. edule Swartz). Cultivated
and sometimes naturalized in North Africa, the island of St. Thomas,
and the Mascarenes. The stem yields fibres, the roots and fruits are
edible and contain starch. Sechium P. Browne
Female flowers crowded in heads. Fruit small, with a leathery rind.
Herbs. Flowers greenish.—Species 1. Central Africa; also cultivated
in the Mascarene Islands. Yields starch and medicaments. Sicyos L.
5. Stamens 5, one of them sterile; filaments free; anthers more or less
cohering, 2-celled. Petals unequal, undivided. Ovary incompletely
3-celled; ovules few in each cell, pendulous. Styles 3; stigmas 2-lobed.
Fruit 3-valved at the apex. Seeds winged. Shrubs. Tendrils
2-cleft. Flowers dioecious, the male in racemes, the female solitary.—Species
4. Central and South Africa. Used medicinally. (Including
Atheranthera Mast.) [Tribe FEVILLEAE.] Gerrardanthus Harv.
Stamens 4-5, united in pairs, hence apparently only 2-3, rarely stamens
5, free and all fertile. 6
6. Anther-cells straight or slightly curved, rarely shortly inflexed at the base
or apex. [Tribe MELOTHRIEAE.] 7
Anther-cells much curved or twisted, U- or S-shaped. [Tribe CUCURBITEAE.] 19
7. Anther-cells (pollen-sacs) 4. Flowers large, rose-coloured, the male
without a rudimentary pistil. Calyx-segments toothed. Petals ciliate.
Ovary oblong, 3-5-celled. Ovules numerous. Style 1. Fruit very
large. Leaves compound. Tendrils 2-cleft.—Species 2. Tropics.
They yield edible oily seeds and medicaments. (Including Ampelosicyos
Thouars). [Subtribe TELFAIRIINAE.] Telfairia Hook.
Anther-cells 2, rarely (Melothria) 4, but then flowers small, white or yellow,
the male with a rudimentary pistil, fruit small, and leaves simple. 8
8. Disc at the base of the style distinctly developed. [Subtribe MELOTHRIINAE.] 9
Disc at the base of the style indistinct or wanting. [Subtribe
ANGURIINAE.] 10
9. Calyx with a cylindrical tube and long, awl-shaped segments. Anthers
sessile, attached by the back. Male flowers solitary or 2-3 together,
female solitary.—Species 3. Central Africa. Oreosyce Hook. fil.
Calyx with a campanulate tube and short segments. Anthers attached
by the base.—Species 30. Tropical and South Africa. They yield
vegetables and medicaments, or serve as ornamental plants. (Including
Mukia Arn., Pilogyne Schrad., and Zehneria Endl.) Melothria L.
10. Stamens inserted at the throat of the calyx. 11
Stamens inserted in the calyx-tube. Climbing or prostrate herbs. 12
11. Stem erect, woody, tree-like. Leaves more or less deeply divided. Flowers
monoecious, the male in panicles, without a pistil. Stigma 1, 3-lobed.—Species
1. Island of Socotra. Dendrosicyos Balf. fil.
Stem prostrate or climbing, herbaceous. Stigmas 3.—Species 30. Central
and South Africa, one species also cultivated in North Africa and the
Mascarene Islands. Some species yield edible fruits and medicaments,
or serve as ornamental plants. (Plate 148.) Momordica L.
12. Anther-cells inflexed at the apex. Connective broad. Flowers small,
yellow, monoecious, the male with a rudimentary pistil. Stigmas 3.—Species
2. West Africa. They yield edible fruits, oily seeds, and medicaments.
(Including Cladosicyos Hook., under Zehneria Endl.) Cucumeropsis Naud.
Anther-cells straight, slightly curved, or inflexed at the base. 13
13. Calyx-tube long, cylindrical. Flowers dioecious, the male in panicles, the
female in racemes. Ovules numerous. Stigmas 2, 2-cleft.—Species
1. Madagascar. Trochomeriopsis Cogn.
Calyx-tube short, campanulate. Flowers nearly always monoecious. 14
14. Male flowers solitary or in fascicles or heads. Stamens with a lengthened
or broadened connective. 15
Male flowers in racemes. 16
15. Stigma 1, lobed. Ovules few in each ovary-cell. Staminodes of the
female flowers minute or wanting. Flowers small, yellowish-green.
Fruit opening by a lid.—Species 20. Tropical and South Africa. Corallocarpus Welw.
Stigmas 3-5. Ovules numerous. Staminodes hair-like or strap-shaped.—Species
30. Some of them (especially the cucumber, C. sativus L.,
and the melon, C. Melo L.) yield edible fruits, oily seeds, and medicaments,
or serve as ornamental plants. Cucumis L.
16. Leaf-stalk with a small, fringed, stipule-like leaf at the base. Calyx-segments
awl-shaped. Male flowers without a rudimentary pistil, female
without staminodes. Connective not prolonged. Ovules 2-3 in each
cell.—Species 2. Central and South-west Africa. (Ctenolepis Hook.) Blastania Kotschy & Peyr.
Leaf-stalk without a stipule-like leaf at its base. 17
17. Stem short. Flowers appearing before the leaves, the male with a rudimentary
pistil, the female with linear staminodes. Calyx-segments
narrow. Connective narrow, not prolonged. Stigmas 3. Ovules
numerous. Leaves lobed.—Species 1. South Africa. Pisosperma Sond. & Harv.
Stem long. Flowers appearing with the leaves. 18
18. Staminodes in the female flowers thread-like, curved. Connective not
prolonged at the apex. Male flowers without a rudimentary pistil.
Stigmas 1-2. Ovules numerous. Calyx-segments broad. Fruit bottle-shaped.
Seeds globose. Leaves toothed or lobed.—Species 3. South
Africa to Ngamiland. Toxanthera Hook.
Staminodes in the female flowers small or wanting. Connective prolonged
at the apex, very rarely not prolonged, but then fruit oblong,
without a beak, and leaves deeply divided. Ovules usually few.—Species
15. Central and South Africa. Some are used as ornamental
or medicinal plants. (Including Coniandra Schrad. and Rhynchocarpa
Schrad.) Kedrostis Medik.
19. (6.) Ovules solitary in each ovary-cell, erect. Style surrounded at the
base by a disc. Staminodes present in the female flowers. Anthers
cohering. Petals undivided.—Species 1. West Africa and Canary
Islands. (Including Trianosperma Mart.) [Subtribe ABOBRINAE.] Cayaponia Manso.
Ovules 2 or more in each ovary-cell or upon each placenta, horizontal,
rarely ovary 1-celled with 2 ovules, one erect, the other pendulous. 20
20. Petals slit at the edge, free or nearly so. Calyx-tube long. Stem climbing.
Leaves cleft or compound. Tendrils 2-3-cleft. Male flowers in
racemes. [Subtribe TRICHOSANTHINAE.] 21
Petals not slit. 22
21. Stamens combined into 3, projecting beyond the calyx-tube. Male flowers
with a rudimentary pistil. Fruit snake-shaped. Leaves 3-7-lobed.
Tendrils 3-cleft. Flowers white.—Species 1. Cultivated and naturalized
in Madagascar and the neighbouring islands. Used as a vegetable
or as an ornamental or medicinal plant. “Snake-gourd.” Trichosanthes L.
Stamens 5, free, seated in the calyx-tube. Male flowers without a rudimentary
pistil. Fruit pear-shaped. Leaves ternately compound.
Tendrils 2-cleft.—Species 1. Madagascar. Delognaea Cogn.
22. Corolla distinctly campanulate, lobed or cleft. Ovules numerous. Flowers
large or medium-sized, the male without a rudimentary pistil. Leaves
entire, toothed, or lobed. [Subtribe CUCURBITINAE.] 23
Corolla more or less rotate. [Subtribe CUCUMERINAE.] 26
23. Calyx-segments pinnately dissected. Female flowers without staminodes.
Style long, inserted on the disc. Stigmas 3, 3-5-lobed. Fruit dry.
Tendrils simple.—Species 4. Tropics. (Raphidiocystis Hook.) Rhaphidiocystis Hook.
Calyx-segments undivided. Female flowers provided with staminodes. 24
24. Flowers monoecious. Style short and thick. Stigmas 3-5, 2-lobed.
Tendrils 2- or more-cleft.—Species 4. Cultivated and sometimes
naturalized. They yield edible fruits, oil, and medicaments, and serve
as ornamental plants. “Pumpkin.” Cucurbita L.
Flowers dioecious. Style long. Stigma 1, 3-lobed or 3-partite. Tendrils
simple or 2-cleft. 25
25. Anthers cohering. Staminodes of the female flowers from subulate to
oblong. Fruit small. (See 3.) Coccinia Wight & Arn.
Anthers free. Staminodes of the female flowers conical or globose. Fruit
rather large.—Species 6. Central Africa. (Including Staphylosyce
Hook.) Physedra Hook.
26. (22.) Calyx-tube of the male flowers long, cylinder- or funnel-shaped. 27
Calyx-tube of the male flowers short, top- or bell-shaped. 32
27. Anthers connate. Female flowers without Staminodes. Flowers large,
white or yellow. 28
Anthers free or loosely cohering. Female flowers provided with staminodes. 29
28. Flowers monoecious. Anthers folded lengthwise. Ovary oblong. Leaf-stalk
without glands at the apex.—Species 20. Tropical and South
Africa. (Peponia Naud.) Peponium Naud.
Flowers dioecious. Anthers twisted transversely. Ovary globose.—Species
9. Tropics. Used medicinally. Adenopus Benth.
29. Flowers small or medium-sized, yellow or red. Anthers cohering. Rudimentary
pistil of the male flowers conical. Stigma 1, 3-lobed. Seeds
flattened. Root tuberous.—Species 15. Tropical and South Africa.
Some species have edible roots also used in medicine. (Including
Heterosicyos Welw.) Trochomeria Hook.
Flowers large. Rudimentary pistil of the male flowers gland-like or
wanting. Stigmas 3. Climbing herbs. 30
30. Flowers monoecious, white, solitary. Style very short. Stigmas 2-lobed.
Fruit with a woody rind. Seeds flattened. Leaves undivided; stalk
with 2 glands at the apex. Tendrils 2-cleft.—Species 1 (L. vulgaris
Ser., bottle-gourd). Tropics; also cultivated and naturalized in
extratropical countries. It yields edible fruits, also used for making
bottles and other utensils, and serves as an ornamental and medicinal
plant. Lagenaria Ser.
Flowers dioecious. Tendrils simple. 31
31. Male flowers in racemes. Leaves undivided.—Species 5. West Africa. Cogniauxia Baill.
Male flowers solitary or in clusters. Corolla yellow. Stamens with a broad
connective. Staminodes bearded at the base. Stigmas heart-shaped.
Fruit fleshy. Seeds nearly globose. Leaves lobed; stalk without
glands.—Species 4. Central Africa. (Euryandra Hook.) Eureiandra Hook.
32. (26.) Anthers connate. Flowers dioecious, the male in clusters and
without a rudimentary pistil, the female without staminodes. Leaves
undivided. 33
Anthers free or loosely cohering; in the latter case flowers monoecious. 34
33. Stem herbaceous, without tendrils. Leaves linear. Anthers with a
scale at the base.—Species 1. Abyssinia. Eulenburgia Pax
Stem woody, climbing, bearing tendrils. Leaves broad.—Species 3.
West Africa. They yield oily seeds. Dimorphochlamys Hook.
34. Anthers cohering; cells horse-shoe-shaped. Flowers monoecious, the male
in umbels and with a rudimentary pistil, the female solitary and without
staminodes. Stigma subcapitate. Herbs. Leaves lobed, with a stipule-like
leaf at the base. Tendrils simple. Flowers white. Fruit small.—Species
1. West Africa. (Under Bryonia L.) Dactyliandra Hook. fil.
Anthers free, at least when fully developed. 35
35. Stamens inserted at the throat of the calyx. 36
Stamens inserted in the tube of the calyx. 39
36. Calyx without scales at the base. Flowers dioecious, yellow or green,
the male solitary or in clusters, the female solitary, with 5 staminodes.
Ovary globose. Placentas and stigmas 5. Fruits large. Leafless,
nearly erect, spiny shrubs.—Species 1. German South-west Africa
and Angola. Yields edible fruits and seeds and medicaments. Acanthosicyos Welw.
Calyx with 2-3 scales at the base. Ovary bottle-shaped. Placentas and
stigmas 1-3. Climbing or prostrate herbs. 37
37. Ovules 2. Stigma 1, capitate. Flowers large, yellow, monoecious, the
male 2-3 together at the base of the leaf-blade, without a rudimentary
pistil, the female solitary or in pairs, without staminodes. Fruits small.
Leaves slightly lobed. Tendrils simple.—Species 3. Central Africa.
(Raphanocarpus Hook.) Rhaphanocarpus Hook.
Ovules 3 or more. Stigmas 3. 38
38. Ovules few. Fruit constricted between the seeds.—Species 1. East
Africa. (Raphanistrocarpus Baill.) Rhaphanistrocarpus Baill.
Ovules numerous. (See 11.) Momordica L.
39. Male flowers in racemes. 40
Male flowers solitary or in clusters, yellow. 43
40. Female flowers in racemes or clusters, small. Ovules few. Male flowers
without a rudimentary pistil. Fruit more or less globular. Tendrils
simple.—Species 4. North Africa. Poisonous and used medicinally. Bryonia L.
Female flowers solitary. Ovules numerous. 41
41. Flowers dioecious large, white, the male without a rudimentary pistil.
Stigma 1, 3-lobed. Fruit large, globose. Leafstalk with two glands
at the apex. Tendrils 2-cleft, rarely simple.—Species 1. Tropical and
South Africa. Sphaerosicyos Hook.
Flowers monoecious. Stigmas 3, 2-lobed. Leaf-stalk without glands. 42
42. Tendrils cleft. Leaves lobed. Fruit dry, opening by a lid.—Species 7.
Tropical and South Africa; one species also cultivated in North Africa.
They are used as vegetables and medicinal plants; some have edible,
others poisonous fruits; the fibres of the fruit are employed for making
sponges, hats, and various utensils; the seeds are oily. Luffa L.
Tendrils absent. Leaves undivided. Flowers yellow, the male without
a rudimentary pistil. Fruit fleshy, ejecting the seeds when ripe.—Species
1. North Africa. A poisonous and medicinal plant. “Squirting
cucumber.” Ecballium A. Rich.
43. Male flowers without a rudimentary pistil. Ovules few. Stem climbing.
Tendrils two-cleft. Flowers in clusters, small, yellowish-green, monoecious.
Fruit small, globular.—Species 1. Tropics. Used as an
ornamental and medicinal plant. Bryonopsis Arn.
Male flowers with a rudimentary pistil. Ovules numerous. 44
44. Connective of the stamens with a 2-cleft appendage at the apex. Tendrils
simple, rarely wanting. (See 15.) Cucumis L.
Connective of the stamens not prolonged at the apex. Tendrils 2-3-cleft.
Stem prostrate. Leaves lobed or divided. Flowers large, monoecious. 45
45. Calyx-segments leaf-like, serrate, recurved. Flowers solitary.—Species 1
(B. hispida Cogn.). Cultivated in various regions. The fruits are
eaten and used in medicine. Benincasa Savi.
Calyx-segments awl-shaped, entire.—Species 4. They yield edible
fruits (chiefly from C. vulgaris Neck., water-melon), edible oily seeds,
and medicaments; some are poisonous. (Colocynthis L.) Citrullus Neck.
SUBORDER CAMPANULINEAE
FAMILY 224. CAMPANULACEAE
Leaves entire toothed or lobed, without stipules. Petals usually united below. Stamens as many as the petals. Anthers turned inwards. Ovary inferior or half-inferior, rarely (Lightfootia) superior, 2-10-celled, rarely (Merciera) 1-celled. Ovules inverted, numerous and axile, rarely few and apical or basal. Style simple. Fruit a capsule, rarely a nut or (Canarina) a berry. Seeds with fleshy albumen; embryo straight.—Genera 26, species 400. (Including LOBELIACEAE and SPHENOCLEACEAE.) (Plate 149.)
1. Anthers connate. Flowers more or less irregular, solitary or in racemes
or panicles. [Subfamily LOBELIOIDEAE.] 2
Anthers free, rarely (Jasione) cohering at the base, but then flowers regular
and in heads. 7
2. Petals free. Flowers nearly regular, small, greenish-yellow, in many-flowered
terminal and lateral racemes.—Species 2. Madagascar. Dialypetalum Benth.
Petals united below. 3
3. Corolla-tube slit down to the base or nearly so, at least on one side. Stamens
free from the corolla or nearly so. 4
Corolla-tube not or but shortly slit. 6
4. Fruit linear. All anthers hairy at the apex.—Species 1. South Africa.
(Under Lobelia L.) Grammatotheca Presl
Fruit roundish. 5
5. Anthers and stigmas ripe at the same time. All anthers hairy at the apex.
Odd sepal in front.—Species 12. South and East Africa and Comoro
Islands. Some are used as ornamental plants. (Including Dobrowskya
Presl and Parastranthus Don, under Lobelia L.) Monopsis Salisb.
Anthers ripe before the stigmas. Odd sepal usually behind.—Species 120.
Southern and tropical Africa, Madeira, and Azores. Some are poisonous
or are used as ornamental or medicinal plants. (Including Isolobus A.
DC. and Metzleria Presl) Lobelia L.
6. Filaments adnate to the corolla on one side to beyond the middle. Corolla
white.—Species 1. Naturalized in the Island of Réunion. A poisonous
and medicinal plant. Isotoma Lindl.
Filaments free from the corolla or shortly adnate to it. Corolla blue or
white.—Species 10. South and North-west Africa. (Including
Enchysia Presl) Laurentia Neck.
7. (1.) Flowers distinctly irregular. Ovary 2-celled. Fruit opening loculicidally
and septicidally.—Species 30. South and Central Africa. Several
species have edible tubers. [Subfamily CYPHIOIDEAE.] Cyphia Berg
Flowers regular or nearly so. [Subfamily CAMPANULOIDEAE.] 8
8. Corolla imbricate in the bud. Style very short, without collecting hairs.
Ovary 2-celled; placentas thick, suspended from the top of the partition.
Fruit opening by a lid. Flowers in spikes, small, greenish or yellowish.—Species
1. Tropics and Egypt. [Tribe SPHENOCLEEAE.] Sphenoclea Gaertn.
Corolla valvate in the bud. Style with hairs or viscid glands for collecting
the pollen. [Tribe CAMPANULEAE.] 9
9. Carpels 5, as many as the sepals or stamens, and alternating with them. 10
Carpels as many as the sepals or stamens, but opposite to them, or fewer. 11
10. Corolla rotate or broadly campanulate, deeply cleft, yellow or red. Filaments
broadened at the base. Fruit opening laterally by many transverse
slits. Large herbs or undershrubs. Leaves elliptical. Flowers
large, in panicles.—Species 2. Madeira. Used as ornamental plants. Musschia Dumort.
Corolla tubular or narrowly campanulate. Filaments not broadened.
Fruit opening loculicidally by 5 apical valves. Seeds few. Small
herbs. Leaves linear. Flowers small, solitary or in clusters.—Species
4. South Africa. Microcodon A. DC.
11. Filaments adnate to the corolla halfway or higher up. Fruit opening
by an apical lid. 12
Filaments free from the corolla or nearly so. 13
12. Ovules 2 in each ovary-cell, suspended from the top of the cell. Flowers
blue, in raceme- or panicle-like cymose inflorescences. Leaves linear.
Herbs or undershrubs. Siphocodon Turcz.
Ovules many in each cell, attached to the inner angle. Flowers red, in
heads. Leaves ovate. Shrubs.—Species 1. South Africa. Rhigiophyllum Hochst.
13. Anthers cohering at the base. Petals free or nearly so. Ovary 2-celled.
Fruit opening loculicidally at the top. Flowers in heads surrounded by
an involucre.—Species 4. North Africa. Jasione L.
Anthers free. 14
14. Ovules 4, basal. Ovary 1-celled, sometimes incompletely 2-celled. Corolla
tubular-funnel-shaped. Fruit dry, indehiscent, 1-, rarely 2-4-seeded.
Undershrubs. Flowers solitary, axillary.—Species 4. South Africa. Merciera A. DC.
Ovules axile, usually numerous. Ovary 2-10-celled. 15
15. Fruit a roundish berry. Flowers solitary, terminal, large, nearly always
6-merous. Corolla bell-shaped, yellow or red. Filaments broadened
at the base. Leaves opposite, the lower whorled.—Species 3. East
Africa and Canary Islands. They yield edible roots and fruits and
serve as ornamental plants. Canarina L.
Fruit a capsule, rarely a nut. Flowers usually 5-merous. 16
16. Fruit narrow, opening by an apical lid and sometimes also by lateral slits,
more rarely remaining closed. Ovary 2-celled. 17
Fruit opening by apical valves or by lateral valves, slits, or pores. 18
17. Flowers in terminal heads. Corolla tubular. Ovary ovoid.—Species
1. South Africa. (Leptocodon Sond.) Treichelia Vatke
Flowers terminal and solitary, or in lateral glomerules. Ovary oblong.—Species
15. South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants. Roëlla L.
18. Fruit opening by lateral, but sometimes nearly apical valves, slits, or
pores. 19
Fruit opening loculicidally at the apex, usually broad. 22
19. Fruit narrow, opening by pores or slits. 20
Fruit broad, opening by valves. 21
20. Fruit opening by long slits. Ovary 2-celled. Corolla funnel-shaped or
narrowly bell-shaped.—Species 20. South Africa. Prismatocarpus L’Hér.
Fruit opening by short slits or pores. Ovary 3-celled. Corolla wheel-shaped
or broadly bell-shaped.—Species 4. North Africa. They
serve as ornamental plants; the root is edible. “Venus’s looking-glass.” Specularia Heist.
21. Corolla tubular. Ovary 2-3-celled. Style projecting far beyond the
corolla. Flowers in panicles.—Species 1. North-west Africa. Used
as an ornamental plant; the root is edible. Trachelium L.
Corolla bell- or funnel-shaped. Ovary 3-5-celled. Style not or slightly
projecting beyond the corolla.—Species 25. North Africa and northern
Central Africa. Several species are used as vegetables or as medicinal
or ornamental plants. Campanula L.
22. Stigma-lobes 2-10, narrow. 23
Stigma-lobes 2-3, broad, sometimes very small. 24
23. Petals free or nearly so, narrow.—Species 50. Southern and tropical
Africa. (Plate 149.) Lightfootia L’Hér.
Petals obviously united below, or broad.—Species 80. Some of them
serve as ornamental plants. (Including Cervicina Del.) Wahlenbergia Schrad.
24. Petals free or nearly so, narrow, blue. Herbs.—Species 6. Central and
South-west Africa. Cephalostigma A. DC.
Petals obviously united below. 25
25. Corolla bell-shaped, deeply cleft, yellow. Style equalling the corolla.
Fruit opening at the top and laterally. Seeds numerous. Stem woody.
Species 1. Mascarene Islands. (Under Wahlenbergia Schrad.) Heterochaenia A. DC.
Corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, shortly lobed. Style much exceeding the
corolla. Fruit opening at the top only. Seeds about ten. Stem
herbaceous.—Species 1. Morocco. (Under Trachelium L.) Feeria Buser
FAMILY 225. GOODENIACEAE
Shrubs or trees. Juice not milky. Leaves alternate, undivided, without stipules. Flowers in axillary cymes, irregular, hermaphrodite. Calyx truncate or 5-toothed. Corolla 5-lobed, slit open behind, with folded aestivation. Stamens 5, alternating with the corolla-lobes, free from the corolla. Anthers free, turned inwards. Ovary inferior, 2-celled. Ovules solitary in each cell, erect. Style simple. Stigma capitate, surrounded by a fringed cup. Fruit a drupe. Seeds with fleshy albumen; embryo straight.
Genus 1, species 2. Tropical and South Africa. They yield wood for
carpenters’ work, pith used in the manufacture of paper, vegetables,
and medicaments. Scaevola L.
FAMILY 226. COMPOSITAE
Leaves simple and exstipulate, but sometimes dissected or provided with stipule-like auricles. Flowers seated upon a dilated or elevated receptacle and arranged in sometimes spike-like or one-flowered heads which are surrounded by an involucre. Heads either containing only hermaphrodite flowers, several of which are sometimes sterile (male), or consisting of hermaphrodite or male central (disc-) flowers and female or neuter marginal (ray-) flowers, more rarely heads unisexual or reduced to a single flower. Calyx-limb (pappus) formed of sometimes connate scales or hairs, fully developed only in fruit, or wanting. Corolla of united petals, in the hermaphrodite and male flowers 3-5-lobed with valvate aestivation, regular (tube-, funnel-, or bell-shaped) or 2-lipped or 1-lipped (strap-shaped), in the female flowers sometimes wanting. Stamens as many as the corolla-lobes and alternate with them, inserted in the corolla-tube. Anthers connate, rarely free, opening inwards by
CAMPANULACEAE.
FLOW. PL. AFR.
Pl. 149.
J. Fleischmann del.
Lightfootia subulata L’Hér.
A Flowering branch. B Flower cut lengthwise. C Fruit. D Seed.
COMPOSITAE.
FLOW. PL. AFR.
Pl. 150.
J. Fleischmann del.
Vernonia Baumii O. Hoffm.
A Flowering branch. B Flower. C Flower cut lengthwise and pappus-bristle. D Anther from front and back.
two longitudinal slits. Ovary inferior, 1-celled. Ovule 1, erect, inverted. Style of the fertile hermaphrodite flowers cleft into two branches, which bear stigmatic papillae on the inner face or the margins, and hairs on the outer face, on both sides, or at the top; style of the sterile flowers usually entire. Fruit indehiscent, mostly dry. Seed solitary, with a thin coat usually adnate to the pericarp, exalbuminous. Embryo straight; radicle short, inferior.—Genera 327, species 4200. (Including AMBROSIACEAE.) (Plate 150.)