Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Metachlamydeae: Gentianales

Gentianaceae - Gentian family

Paiva, J. & Nogueira, I. (1990) Gentianaceae Flora Zambesiaca 7(4)

Description of the family

Mostly annual, biennial or perennial herbs, rarely (Anthocleista only in our area) trees or shrubs. Stipules 0. Leaves simple, opposite (in ours). Inflorescence a cyme or raceme, sometimes flowers solitary, fasciculate or verticillate. Flowers bisexual (sometimes unisexual), actinomorphic, (rarely zygomorphic). Calyx tubular with (2-)4-5 or rarely 6-12 lobes. Corolla gamopetalous, 3-5(-16)-lobed. Stamens as many as corolla lobes. Ovary superior, 1- or 2-locular. Fruit usually a capsule, rarely a berry.

Worldwide: 89 genera and c.1200 species, ± cosmopolitan but mainly temperate and subtropical

Zimbabwe: 1 cultivated genus and 1 cultivated taxon.

No image of a cultivated species but there is an image of a native or naturalised species

Links to cultivated genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Anthocleista Afzel. ex R. Br.Description, Image

Other sources of information about Gentianaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Gentianaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Gentianaceae
Flora of Malawi: Gentianaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Gentianaceae
Flora of Zambia: Gentianaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Gentianaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Gentianaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Gentianaceae
Wikipedia: Gentianaceae


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-23

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2023). Flora of Zimbabwe: Cultivated plants: Family page: Gentianaceae.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/cult/family.php?family_id=90, retrieved 31 March 2023

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