On the disintegration of Molluginaceae: a new genus and family (Kewa, Kewaceae) segregated from Hypertelis, and placement of Macarthuria in Macarthuriaceae
Author
Christenhusz, Maarten J. M.
Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW 9 3 DS, UK.
Author
Brockington, Samuel F.
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB 2 3 EA, UK.
Author
Christin, Pascal-Antoine
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S 10 2 TN, UK.
Author
Sage, Rowan F.
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, Ontario M 5 S 3 B 2, Canada.
text
Phytotaxa
2014
2014-10-08
181
4
238
242
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.181.4.4
journal article
10.11646/phytotaxa.181.4.4
1179-3163
5146298
Kewaceae Christenh.
,
fam. nov.
Type
of the family:—
Kewa
Christenh.
,
gen. nov.
These are annual or perennial herbs that can be slightly woody. Their leaves are alternate or in false whorls, usually more or less fasciculate at the stem tips, succulent, linear and terete. Stipules are present and fused to the base of the blade, sheathing the stem to different degrees. Inflorescences are terminal or apparently axillary, long-stalked (false) umbels. Flowers are bisexual and actinomorphic and have a whorl of five free sepals, of which three or four become petal-like (usually white or pink), but true petals are absent. The five to 15 (rarely fewer) stamens have shortly fused filaments and dorsifixed anthers opening by longitudinal slits. The superior ovary is composed of three to five fused carpels and is topped by short, fleshy stigmatic crests. The fruit is a membranaceous capsule that opens loculicidally. The family includes the single genus
Kewa
.