Vaccaria
Gen. Pl., 3. 1776.
| Taxon | Illustrator ⠉ | |
|---|---|---|
 | Scleranthus annuus subsp. annuus Gypsophila paniculata Gypsophila scorzonerifolia Vaccaria hispanica | Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi Barbara Alongi |
Herbs, annual. Taproots stout. Stems simple proximally, branched distally, terete. Leaves opposite, somewhat clasping or connate proximally into sheath, petiolate (basal) or sessile (cauline); blade 1-veined, lanceolate to oblong or ovatelanceolate, apex acute to obtuse. Inflorescences terminal, lax to erect, open, often flat-topped cymes; bracts paired, foliaceous; involucel bracteoles absent. Pedicels erect. Flowers: sepals connate proximally into tube, 9–17 cm, tube whitish green, 5-veined, cylindric to ovoid, 5-angled or winged, especially in fruit, commissures between sepals absent; lobes green, 1-veined, obovate to broadly triangular, shorter than tube, margins green or reddish, scarious, apex acute or acuminate; petals 5, pink to purplish, clawed, auricles absent, coronal appendages absent, blade apex entire or sometimes briefly 2-fid; nectaries at filament bases; stamens 10, adnate to petals; filaments distinct; staminodes absent; ovary 1-locular or sometimes 2-locular proximally; styles 2 (–3), filiform, 10–12 mm, glabrous proximally; stigmas 2 (–3), linear along adaxial surface of styles, papillate (30×). Capsules oblong to subglobose, exocarp opening by 4 (–6) slightly spreading teeth, endocarp opening irregularly; carpophore present. Seeds ca. 10, black, subglobose, laterally compressed, papillose, marginal wing absent, appendage absent; embryo peripheral, curved. x = 15.
Distribution
Introduced; Eurasia, in South America, Africa (Republic of South Africa), Australia
Discussion
Species 1 or 4 (1 in the flora).
Selected References
None.