Polylychnis

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Limbs>Growth form

not spreading1

1. 005-002-002-002

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Limbs>Lip number

2-lipped2

2. 005-002-002-001

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Upper lip>Lobe number

2-lobed3

3. 005-002-003-001

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers>Theca number

2-thecous4

4. 005-003-003-001

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Connective>Shape

apiculate5

5. 005-003-005-001

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Thecae>Shape

obtuse at base6

6. 005-003-004-001

<<<Leaves>Blade>Margins>Margin type

entire or irregularly dentate7

7. 003-001-003-001

<<Capsules>Seeds>Seed number

68

8. 006-003-001

<<Capsules>Seeds>Shape

homomorphic, flattened to lenticular9

9. 006-003-002

<<Flowers>Calyx>Lobe number

5-lobed10

10. 005-001-002

<<Flowers>Calyx>Shape

campanulate11

11. 005-001-001

<<Flowers>Corolla>Limbs

limb short, , ,12

12. 005-002-002

<<Flowers>Corolla>Lobes

lobes contorted in buds;13

13. 005-002-004

<<Flowers>Corolla>Shape

tubular14

14. 005-002-001

<<Flowers>Corolla>Upper lip

upper lip ,15

15. 005-002-003

<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers

anthers ,16

16. 005-003-003

<<Flowers>Stamens>Connective

connective ;17

17. 005-003-005

<<Flowers>Stamens>Filaments

filaments united in pairs at base,18

18. 005-003-002

<<Flowers>Stamens>Stamen number

419

19. 005-003-001

<<Flowers>Stamens>Thecae

thecae subequal to subparallel, ,20

20. 005-003-004

<<Leaves>Blade>Cystoliths

with numerous cylindrical cystoliths21

21. 003-001-002

<<Leaves>Blade>Margins

margins22

22. 003-001-003

<<Leaves>Blade>Shape

elliptic to narrowly ovate23

23. 003-001-001

<Capsules>Retinacula

retinacula present, septa with curved retinacula remaining attached to inner wall of mature capsule;24

24. 006-002

<Capsules>Seeds

seeds , .25

25. 006-003

<Capsules>Shape

clavate26

26. 006-001

<Flowers>Calyx

calyx , basally unequal and shortly or toothed;27

27. 005-001

<Flowers>Corolla

corolla , slightly curved,28

28. 005-002

<Flowers>Disk

disk annular, with distinct projections.29

29. 005-004

<Flowers>Stamens

stamens , didynamous, inserted near apex of corolla tube, included in corolla tube or exserted from mouth of corolla,30

30. 005-003

<Inflorescences>Bracteoles

bracteoles none.31

31. 004-003

<Inflorescences>Bracts

bracts small, basal pair sometimes leaf-like;32

32. 004-002

<Inflorescences>Position

terminal and axillary33

33. 004-001

<Leaves>Blade

blades , , .34

34. 003-001

<Stems>Shape

quadrangular35

35. 002-001

Capsules

Capsules ,36

36. 006

Description

Large herbs or shrubs, with cystoliths. Stems quadrangular and articulated. Leaves opposite, petiolate; blades elliptic to narrowly ovate, with numerous cylindrical cystoliths, margins entire or irregularly dentate. Inflorescences narrow, terminal and axillary, panicles, basal branchlets once or twice dichasially branched; bracts small, basal pair sometimes leaf-like; bracteoles none. Flowers homostylous, pedicellate; calyx campanulate, basally unequal and shortly 5-lobed or toothed; corolla tubular, slightly curved, limb short, 2-lipped, not spreading, upper lip 2-lobed, lobes contorted in buds; stamens 4, didynamous, inserted near apex of corolla tube, included in corolla tube or exserted from mouth of corolla, filaments united in pairs at base, anthers 2-thecous, thecae subequal to subparallel, obtuse at base, connective apiculate; disk annular, with distinct projections. Capsules clavate, retinacula present, septa with curved retinacula remaining attached to inner wall of mature capsule; seeds 6, homomorphic, flattened to lenticular.

Distribution

Amazonian Brazil present, tropical moist forests of the Guianas present

A segregate with 3 species of the large genus Ruellia; local and infrequent at low elevation in tropical moist forests of the Guianas and adjacent Amazonian Brazil.

Flowers

Flowers homostylous, pedicellate;37

37. 005

Habit

Large herbs or shrubs, with cystoliths.38

38. 001

Inflorescences

Inflorescences narrow, , panicles, basal branchlets once or twice dichasially branched;39

39. 004

Leaves

Leaves opposite, petiolate;40

40. 003

Stems

Stems and articulated.41

41. 002

Studied:

P. fulgens.

Wood

Growth rings absent.
Vessels distributed in radial strokes, solitary for 25%, remainder in radial multiples of 2-4, seldom in clusters; 36 (33-41) per sq. mm, outline round, diameter 30-60 µm. Vessel member length 800 (400-1120) µm. Perforations simple, intervascular pits 4 µm, slits included, at vessel tips indication of spiral thickening. Vessel/ray pitting irregular: small and round as well as large and elongate, almost scalariform. Thin tyloses present, some containing cystoliths.
Rays 1-4-seriate, 7 (3-9) per mm. Strongly heterogeneous, procumbent cells virtually absent, square cells few, upright cells up to 260 µm high; often vertically fused. Sheath cells often locally present. Contents: numerous cystoliths.
Parenchyma very scarce, occasionally a strand bordering a vessel. Strands of 2 cells and also undivided fusiform cells present.
Ground tissue consisting of septate fibres. Diameter 20-30 µm, walls thin 3-4 µm. Pits simple, numerous in radial and tangential walls. Length 805 (400-1120) µm. F/V ratio: 1.33.

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