Linderniaceae Borsch, Kai Müll. & Eb.Fisch.

First published in Pl. Biol. (Stuttgart) 7(1): 76. 2005 [Jan 2005] (2005)
This family is accepted

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Annual, ephemeral herbs or sub -shrubs with tetragonal stems
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, simple, entire or serrate; estipulate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence terminal or lateral, racemes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers bisexual, ebracteate; sepals 5; petals (2-)4-5, fused, two-lipped, bilaterally symmetrical, glandular hairs on abaxial surface of corolla, disk present; stamens (2-)4(-5), adnate to and alternating with perianth, sometimes differing in shape (zig-zag, curved, longer, etc) or reduced, 2 staminodes present in some Lindernia All., anthers dehiscing via longitudinal slits; ovary superior, syncarpous, carpels 2, style present, stigma sensitive
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit capsule septicidal or septifragal-Seeds many, small; endosperm ruminate .
Note
Notes on delimitation: When circumscribed as part of the Scrophulariaceae can be found in the subfamily Gratioloideae and in the tribe Lindernieae. Segregated by the APG as Linderniaceae within the Lamiales (APGIII). Number of genera: 2: Lindernia spp. and the introduced Toreniathouarsii Kuntze.
Diagnostic
Leaf blade margin often toothed or rarely entire. Stamens 4, all fertile or 2 anterior reduced and filaments appendaged. Distinguishing characters (always present): Leaves opposite. Inflorescence racemose. Corolla lower lip larger than upper erect lip. Anthers coherent or apex of locules of anterior ones pointed or spurred. Fruit capsular. Seeds small, numerous.
Distribution
Lindernia (native). Torenia thouarsii (introduced). Pantropical to warm temperate. In the Neotropics from northern Mexico south to Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay.
[NTK]

Timothy Utteridge & Gemma Bramley (2020). The Kew Tropical Plant Families Identification Handbook, Second Edition. Kew Publishing Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Note
Opposite, simple leaves, cauline or forming basal rosettes; margins entire to serrate. Corolla 2-lipped, stamens 4, exserted, abaxial pair geniculate, z-shaped or with a spur-like appendage; ovary superior; septicidal capsule. Seeds numerous alveolate or smooth.
Recognition
Characters of similar families: Scrophulariaceae sensu lato: abaxial filaments not geniculate or spur-like appendage. Acanthaceae: cymose inflorescence; no modification of abaxial stamens. Lamiaceae: fruit comprising 4 nutlets or a drupe. Gesneriaceae: habitat wet forests and/or wet rocks. Campanulaceae: alternate leaves, semi-inferior ovary, staminal filaments connate or partially so.
Morphology General Habit
Annual and perennial herbs, suffrutices and subshrubs; stems quadrangular, erect orprostrate, occasionally ribbed; glabrous or pubescent
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules absent
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, simple, cauline or basal (rosette-forming); sessile or petiolate; margins entire to dentate, crenate or serrate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence racemose with axillary or terminal racemes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers bisexual, subsessile to distinctly pedicillate; calyx 5-lobed, campanulate to deeply lobed, occasionally winged; corolla strongly 2-lipped, tube cylindrical with glandular hairs on inner tube; stamens 4 or abaxial pair may be reduced to staminodes, all exserted, filaments of abaxial pair modified, geniculate, Z-shaped or with spur-like appendages; ovary superior; ovoid, globose or oblong
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a capsule, septicidal-Seeds numerous with endosperm, alveolate or smooth.
Distribution
A family of 17 genera and c. 250 species, with a pantropical and warm temperate distribution, but most diverse in tropical Africa and South- East Asia.
Description Author
Frances Crawford
[KTROP-FIH]

Sources

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. 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-nc-sa/3.0

  • The Kew Tropical Plant Families Identification Handbook

    • The Kew Tropical Plant Families Identification Handbook
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0