Violaceae |
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Thulin, M. (1993) Violaceae in Flora of Somalia 1: 73-76 Plants herbs, shrubs, or small trees. Leaves usually alternate, rarely opposite or whorled, stipulate; blades simple. Inflorescences of solitary flowers ir in simple or compound inflorescences. Flowers radially or bilaterally symmetric, usually bisexual, sometimes unisexual on separate plants; sepals 5, free or united near the base; petals 5, free, equal or unequal, imbricate, the lowermost petal sometimes extended into a spur; stamens 5, in bilaterally symmetric flowers the lower 2 stamens with appendages extending into the spur; filaments free or variously united; anthers usually with a promiment connective appendage; ovaries 1-celled, usually woth 3-5 parietal placentas; styles solitary, often thickened towards the stigma. Fruits usually loculicidal capsules, rarely nuts or berries; seeds with endosperm. The family Violaceae includes about 22 genera and 900 species. The family is most abundant in the tropics and subtopics but Viola, its largest genus, grows mainly in northern temperate regions. Key to Violaceae in Somaliland and Somalia. Only one genus, Viola, is present in Pakistan. M. Qaiser & Saood Omer (1985) Vitaceae in Flora of Pakistan 166: 1-28 Plants usually herbs or shrubs, rarely trees. Leaves alternate, stipulate; stipules small or leaflike; blades simple. Flowers solitary, axillary, hypogynous, usually bilaterally, rarely radially, symmetric, often bracteolate; sepals 5, persistent, free or united at the base; petals, 5, free, unequal, 4 equal in size, the lowest petal slightly bigger, usually spurred; stamens 5, free or connate, alternating with the petals, often covering the ovaries, filaments short; ovaries superior, with (2-)3(-5) carpels, one-celled, placentas 3, parietal; ovules anatropus; styles simple, usually sigmoid or thickened above; stigmas varied, truncate, lobed, beaked, or simple. Fruits 3-valved capsules, usually loculicidally dehiscent, rarely indehiscent, baccate, or nutlike; seeds numerous, smooth or rough, usually sessile but somtimes borne on a short funicle. The family Violaceae has about 20 genera but only one, Viola, is present in Pakistan. |
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