Herpetacanthus

<<<<Flowers>Ovary>Style>Stigma>Lobe number

2-lobed1

1. 005-007-002-002-001

<<<Flowers>Calyx>Lobes>Shape

lanceolate2

2. 005-002-002-001

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Limbs>Colour

usually white or cream-colored3

3. 005-003-002-002

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Limbs>Lip number

2-lipped4

4. 005-003-002-001

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Lower lip>Growth form

erect or ± spreading5

5. 005-003-004-001

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Lower lip>Lobe number

3-lobed6

6. 005-003-004-002

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Tube>Shape

basally cylindrical, upper half campanulate7

7. 005-003-001-001

<<<Flowers>Corolla>Upper lip>Growth form

erect, emarginate8

8. 005-003-003-001

<<<Flowers>Ovary>Style>Shape

filiform9

9. 005-007-002-001

<<<Flowers>Ovary>Style>Stigma

ending abruptly in a stigma10

10. 005-007-002-002

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers of longer pair>Theca number

2-thecous11

11. 005-004-002-001

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers of longer pair>Thecae

thecae superposed or somewhat obliquely attached to connective12

12. 005-004-002-002

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers of shorter pair>Theca number

1-thecous13

13. 005-004-003-001

<<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers>Shape

basally obtuse14

14. 005-004-004-001

<<Capsules>Seeds>Hairs

glabrous15

15. 006-003-003

<<Capsules>Seeds>Seed number

2-416

16. 006-003-001

<<Capsules>Seeds>Shape

lenticular17

17. 006-003-002

<<Flowers>Calyx>Lobe number

5-lobed18

18. 005-002-001

<<Flowers>Calyx>Lobes

lobes subequal, , posterior (adaxial) lobe, anterior (abaxial) pair and lateral pair of unequal width;19

19. 005-002-002

<<Flowers>Corolla>Limbs

limb , personate, ,20

20. 005-003-002

<<Flowers>Corolla>Lobes

lobes subequal;21

21. 005-003-005

<<Flowers>Corolla>Lower lip

lower lip (anterior) , ,22

22. 005-003-004

<<Flowers>Corolla>Tube

tube ,23

23. 005-003-001

<<Flowers>Corolla>Upper lip

upper lip (posterior) ,24

24. 005-003-003

<<Flowers>Ovary>Ovule number per locule

225

25. 005-007-001

<<Flowers>Ovary>Style

style , .26

26. 005-007-002

<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers

all ;27

27. 005-004-004

<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers of longer pair

anthers of longer pair , ,28

28. 005-004-002

<<Flowers>Stamens>Anthers of shorter pair

those of the shorter pair ,29

29. 005-004-003

<<Flowers>Stamens>Stamen number

430

30. 005-004-001

<<Inflorescences>Bracteoles>Bracteole number

231

31. 004-004-001

<<Inflorescences>Bracts>Colour

light green, drying darker green than cauline leaves32

32. 004-003-002

<<Inflorescences>Bracts>Shape

asymmetrical33

33. 004-003-001

<<Leaves>Blade>Cystoliths

prominently covered with cystoliths34

34. 003-001-003

<<Leaves>Blade>Shape

narrowly ovate35

35. 003-001-001

<<Leaves>Blade>Texture

membranous36

36. 003-001-002

<Capsules>Retinacula

retinacula curved;37

37. 006-002

<Capsules>Seeds

seeds , , .38

38. 006-003

<Capsules>Shape

acute39

39. 006-001

<Flowers>Calyx

calyx ,40

40. 005-002

<Flowers>Corolla

corolla small, straight,41

41. 005-003

<Flowers>Disk

disk annular;42

42. 005-006

<Flowers>Flower number per inflorescence

somewhat rare, usually only 1 per spike open at one time43

43. 005-001

<Flowers>Ovary

ovary with ovules per locule,44

44. 005-007

<Flowers>Stamens

stamens , didynamous, inserted at base or in middle of widest part of tube, united in pairs at base, exserted,45

45. 005-004

<Flowers>Staminodes

staminode absent;46

46. 005-005

<Inflorescences>Bracteoles

bracteoles , laterally subtending calyx.47

47. 004-004

<Inflorescences>Bracts

bracts imbricate, , , entire;48

48. 004-003

<Inflorescences>Inflorescence number

solitary to few49

49. 004-002

<Inflorescences>Position

terminal or axillary50

50. 004-001

<Leaves>Blade

blades usually large, , , .51

51. 003-001

<Stems>Growth form

erect52

52. 002-001

<Stems>Hairs

glabrous to pubescent53

53. 002-003

<Stems>Shape

subquadrangular54

54. 002-002

Capsules

Capsules, stipitate, ,55

55. 006

Description

Perennial shrubs or subshrubs. Stem erect, subquadrangular, articulated, glabrous to pubescent. Leaves opposite, petiolate; blades usually large, narrowly ovate, membranous, prominently covered with cystoliths. Inflorescences terminal or axillary spikes, solitary to few, often with conspicuous leafy bracts; bracts imbricate, asymmetrical, light green, drying darker green than cauline leaves, entire; bracteoles 2, laterally subtending calyx. Flowers somewhat rare, usually only 1 per spike open at one time, bilipped, homostylous; calyx 5-lobed, lobes subequal, lanceolate, posterior (adaxial) lobe, anterior (abaxial) pair and lateral pair of unequal width; corolla small, straight, tube basally cylindrical, upper half campanulate, limb 2-lipped, personate, usually white or cream-colored, upper lip (posterior) erect, emarginate, lower lip (anterior) erect or ± spreading, 3-lobed, lobes subequal; stamens 4, didynamous, inserted at base or in middle of widest part of tube, united in pairs at base, exserted, anthers of longer pair 2-thecous, thecae superposed or somewhat obliquely attached to connective, those of the shorter pair 1-thecous, all basally obtuse; staminode absent; disk annular; ovary with 2 ovules per locule, style filiform, ending abruptly in a 2-lobed stigma. Capsules, stipitate, acute, retinacula curved; seeds 2-4, lenticular, glabrous.

Distribution

French Guiana present, Guianas present, Southern America: Costa Rica (Costa Rica present); Peru (Peru present), Suriname present

A neotropical genus of about 10 species extending from Costa Rica southward to Peru and southeastward through Suriname and French Guiana to Brazil, where it reaches its greatest concentration; 1 species in the Guianas.

Flowers

Flowers , bilipped, homostylous;56

56. 005

Habit

Perennial shrubs or subshrubs.57

57. 001

Inflorescences

Inflorescences spikes, , often with conspicuous leafy bracts;58

58. 004

Leaves

Leaves opposite, petiolate;59

59. 003

Stems

Stem , , articulated, .60

60. 002

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