[NTK]
Maas, P.J.M. & Maas-van de Kamer, H. (2009). Neotropical Haemodoraceae.
- Morphology
-
Description
Perennial , herbs, rhizomatose, sometimes stoloniferous or cormiferous, often with red latex . Leaves parallel-veined, distichous , equitant, linear or ensiform, mainly radical, sheathing at the base. Inflorescence a terminal , bracteate thyrse, the partial inflorescences lax or dense cincinni. Indument of inflorescence and floral parts composed of simple hairs or lacking. Flowers actinomorphic to zygomorphic , shortly pedicellate; tepals 6, arranged in 2 whorls, free or basally connate ; stamens 1-3, unequal, inserted at the base of the inner tepals, filaments short, basifixed, introrsely and longitudinally dehiscent ; staminodes 0-2, inserted at the base of the inner tepals (Pyrrorhiza Maguire & Wurdack) or outer tepals (Schiekia Meisn.); style 1, filiform , stigma simple to slightly 3-lobulate; ovary superior to inferior, 3-locular, ovules 2-many, anatropous, placentation axile , septal nectaries present (except in Xiphidium Aubl.). Fruit a 3-locular, loculicidally dehiscent capsule . Seeds 2-many per locule , tuberculate , hairy, or glabrous .
- Distribution
-
Distribution in the Neotropics
- All over the Neotropics, but also in the USA and Canada (Lachnanthes Elliott).
- General Description
-
Number of genera
- Lachnanthes - (1 sp.)
- Pyrrorhiza - (1 sp.)
- Schiekia - (1 sp.)
- Xiphidium - (2 spp.)
- All genera are native in the Neotropics.
- The red-coloured pigment often present in the underground parts - arylphenalenone haemocorin - is unique in the Plant Kingdom.
- The Haemodoraceae family is placed in the order of Commelinales, together with 2 families which also occur in the Neotropics, namely Commelinaceae and Pontederiaceae.
- Diagnostic
-
Useful tips for generic identification
Key to genera of Neotropical Haemodoraceae
1. Ovary inferior; stamens 3; inflorescence and outer side of tepals densely covered with white, woolly hairs ... Lachnanthes
1. Ovary superior; stamens 1 or 3; inflorescence and outer side of tepals glabrous to hairy, but never covered with woolly hairs ... 22. Inflorescence a thyrse, composed of two to four 5-7-flowered cincinni; stamen 1; cormiferous herbs ... Pyrrorhiza
2. Inflorescence a thyrse, composed of many 3-25-flowered cincinni; stamens 3; rhizomatous herbs ... 33. Staminodes 2; outer side of tepals hairy; ovary with 3-6 ovules per locule; fruit with 2-4 seeds per locule... Schiekia
Distinguishing characters (always present)
3. Staminodes absent; outer side of tepals glabrous; ovary with 7-many ovules per locule; fruit with many seeds per locule... Xiphidium- Perennial herbs.
- Leaves distichous, equitant, parallel-veined.
- Inflorescence a terminal thyrse.
- Indument of inflorescence and floral parts (if present) composed of simple hairs.
- Tepals 6, in 2 whorls.
- Ovary 3-locular.
- Placentation axile.
- Fruit a loculicidally dehiscentcapsule.
- Plants often with red sap in the rhizomes or stolons.
- Leaves linear to ensiform.
- Stamens 1-3, unequal.
- 0-2 staminodes present in 2 genera.
- Ovarysuperior to inferior.
- Ovules 2-many.
Haemodoraceae could easily be confused with Iridaceae because of their distichous, equitant, parallel-veined, narrow leaves. They differ, however, by:
- The red sap in their underground parts.
- Unequal stamens.
- Sometimes having staminodes.
- Literature
-
Important literature
Maas, P.J.M. & H. Maas-van de Kamer. 1993. Haemodoraceae. Flora Neotropica Monograph 61: 1-44.
Simpson, M.G. 1998. Haemodoraceae. In: K. Kubitzki (ed.), The families and genera of vascular plants 4: 212-222.
Haemodoraceae R.Br. appears in other Kew resources:
First published in Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland. 299. 1810 [27 Mar 1810] (1810)
Accepted by
- APG IV (2016) http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/boj.12385
Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2021. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Neotropikey
Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0