|
(Last Modified On 7/25/2013)
|
|
|
|
(Last Modified On 7/25/2013)
|
|
Genus
|
Blechum P. Br. ex Juss.
|
|
PlaceOfPublication
|
Ann. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 9: 269. 1807.
|
|
Note
|
TYPE: B. brownei Juss.
|
|
Description
|
Perennial herbs or shrubs. Leaves lanceolate to ovate or cordate, apically acuminate or obtuse, basally attenuate, acute, obtuse or cordate, containing numerous cystoliths on both the surfaces, petiolate. Infrlorescences in dense terminal spikes, the spikes squarrose; bracts single, imbricate, ovate oblong to ovate deltoid; bracteoles 2, oblanceolate to lanceolate. Flowers 5-merous, perfect; calyx segments slightly unequal, linear subulate; corolla white, blue, lavender, or purplish, funnelform with a narrow tube, the 5 lobes nearly equal; stamens 4, didynamous, the cells parallel and equal. Capsules oblong, flattened, dissepiment breaking away from the capsule wall at maturity; seeds few to 16, reddish brown, flattened, ca. 2 mm in diameter, the edges with a band of sticky dense muci- laginous hairs when wet, glabrous when dry.
|
|
Habit
|
herbs or shrubs
|
|
Note
|
The genus occurs mainly in tropical America, although species such as B. pyramidatum are reported from other tropical areas as well. Leonard (1951) stated that this genus consists of about 6 tenable species and that there is a close relationship between Blechum and Ruellia. Blechum can be recognized by its dense 4-sided spikes and very small flowers.
|
|
Key
|
a. Leaf blades narrow, lanceolate or oblong lanceolate; mature leaves mostly under 15 mm wide ...... 2. B. panainense aa. Leaf blades relatively broad, cordate, ovate or ovate lanceolate; mature leaves well over 15 mm wide. b. Corolla small, equalling or barely exceeding the bracts; bracts acute at the apex ...... 3. B. pyramidattum bb. Corolla relatively large, twice as long as the bracts or longer; bracts acuminate at the apex ...... 1. B. costaricense
|
|
Tag
|
|
|
|
Project Name
|
|
Tag
|
|
|
|