The flowering plants of Africa / An analytical key to the genera of African phanerograms

by Franz Thonner

FLOW. PL. AFR.

Pl. 88.

J. Fleischmann del.

Ventilago leiocarpa Benth.

A Flowering branch. B Flower cut lengthwise. C Sepal. D Petal expanded. E Younger and older stamen. F Fruit. G Lower part of the fruit cut open.

SUBORDER BALSAMININEAE

[FAMILY 136.] BALSAMINACEAE

Succulent herbs. Leaves herbaceous, undivided, penninerved, without stipules. Flowers solitary or in clusters or racemes, without bracteoles, irregular, hermaphrodite. Sepals 3, rarely 5, imbricate in bud, the hindmost more or less distinctly spurred. Petals 3 or 5. Stamens 5; filaments short and broad; anthers united, turned inwards, opening towards the apex. Disc none. Ovary superior, 5-celled. Ovules 3 or more, in the inner angle of each cell, pendulous, inverted, with dorsal raphe. Style 1; stigmas 1 or 5. Fruit succulent, dehiscing elastically. Seeds exalbuminous. (Under GERANIACEAE.) (Plate 87.)

Genus 1, species 100. Tropical and South Africa. Some are used as ornamental plants (balsams), others yield dyes, medicaments, or edible oily seeds. (Including Trimorphopetalum Bak.) Impatiens L.