Ullucus Caldas

Eriksson, R. (2007). A Synopsis of Basellaceae. Kew Bulletin, 62(2), 297-320. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20443356

Type

Ullucus tuberosus Caldas.

Morphology General Habit

Decumbent vines to erect, rather compact herbs

Morphology Stem

Stem glabrous, producing tubers from axillary stolons; tubers globose to elongate, variously coloured

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate, distinctly decurrent on stem; leaf blade 2 - 10 x 2 - 8 cm, + cordate, entire, cordate to somewhat sagittate at base, usually acute to acuminate at apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 3 - 8 cm long racemes with slender axis, distinctly pedunculate, with rather few flowers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts lanceolate or ovate to triangular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 1 - 5.5 mm long, ± slender

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles

Bracteoles subtending flower, distinctly developed, persistent, thin to rather thick, ± triangular to horn like, free

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers distinctly pedicellate, bisexual, chasmogamous, scentless, usually shed after anthesis

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 1.5 - 2.5 x 1.5 - 2 mm, distinctly shorter than petals, ± patent at anthesis and erect in fruit, ovate to rounded triangular, free from each other, fused only at utmost base with petals, without dorsal structures, obtuse to acute at apex, at anthesis yellowish to reddish, sometimes differing from petal colour, in fruit pale, dry and thin

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4 - 7 x 1.5 - 2.5 uniform, ± patent at anthesis and erect in fruit, ± ovate to trullate, connate only at utmost base, ± long caudate at apex, at anthesis yellowish to reddish, in fruit pale, dry and thin

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filaments straight in bud, connate and fused at base up to c. 1/2 of their length with petals; anthers basifixed, ovate to trullate deltoid, with thecae connate at apex, dehiscent by apical, pore-like slits

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary globose to somewhat pyriform, slightly lobed; style 1, not persistent; stigma weakly differentiated to obscurely 3-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit rarely developed, globose to pyriform, rugose, enclosed by persistent perianth; viable seeds probably very rare.

Note

A genus with one species, Ullucus tuberosus, that is subdivided into two subspecies, a cultivated one and its wild progenitor. Various aspects of U. tuberosus, from cultivation to cytology, are extensively presented by, e.g. Sperling (1987) and López & Hermann (2004).