Vaccaria

Wolf

Gen. Pl., 3. 1776.

Etymology: Latin vacca, cow, and -aria, pertaining to, alluding to alleged value for fodder
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 5. Treatment on page 156. Mentioned on page 4, 6, 152.

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 ovate-lanceolate, 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, introduced in South America, Africa (Republic of South Africa), Australia.

Discussion

Species 1 or 4 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

... more about "Vaccaria"
John W. Thieret +  and Richard K. Rabeler +
Eurasia +, introduced in South America +, Africa (Republic of South Africa) +  and Australia. +
Latin vacca, cow, and -aria, pertaining to, alluding to alleged value for fodder +
Caryophyllaceae subfam. Silenoideae +
Vaccaria +
Caryophyllaceae subfam. Caryophylloideae +