Plantaginaceae

Dopatrium Buch.-Ham. ex Benth.

First published in Edwards's Bot. Reg. 21: t. 1770 [4] (1835)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & S. Africa to SW. Pacific.

Descriptions

Scrophulariaceae, S.A. Ghazanfar, F.N. Hepper & D. Philcox. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2008

Morphology General Habit
Annual herbs.
Morphology Stem
Stems often fleshy, simple or sparingly branched, mostly glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, usually small, somewhat closely arranged at the base of stem, larger ones at base decreasing in size and distantly placed upwards
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in the axils of the upper leaves, solitary, forming short racemes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx deeply 5-fid, lobes imbricate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla bilabiate; corolla tube slender at the base, dilated at the throat; upper lip shortly 2-fid, lower lip spreading, broadly 3-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, the 2 posterior fertile, included, filaments filiform, anther thecae parallel; anterior 2 reduced to staminodes, minute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium
Ovules numerous; style short, stigma 2-fid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule small, globose or ovoid, loculicidally dehiscent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds small, tuberculate.
Ecology
Most species occur in shallow temporary pools on rocky outcrops in grasslands. They are ephemeral, flowering for a brief period with the seeds staying dormant in the dried up pans until the next rainy season. Hence, they are seldom collected, and their distribution is imperfectly known.
[FTEA]

Scrophulariaceae, D. Philcox. Flora Zambesiaca 8:2. 1990

Morphology General Habit
Annual herbs, erect, mostly glabrous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, mostly small, closely arranged at base of stem; cauline leaves much reduced in size, few, distant.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers solitary in axils of upper leaves, occasionally cleistogamous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 5-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla bilabiate; tube short to long, often dilated at throat; upper lip bilobed, lower trilobed, all lobes spreading.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
Stamens: 2 posterior fertile, perfect, included, filaments filiform; anther cells parallel, equal; 2 anterior reduced to minute staminodes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style short, often totally, or in part, persistent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary Ovules
Ovules many.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule ovoid or globose, small, loculicidally dehiscent, with 2 entire or bifid valves.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds small, numerous.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

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

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. 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

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. 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