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: 9 genera and 28 taxa.

Chironia purpurascens subsp. humilis

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

GenusContent
Anthocleista Afzel. ex R. Br.Description, Image
Canscora Lam.Description
Chironia L.Description, Image
Enicostema BlumeDescription, Image
Exacum L.Description, Image
Faroa Welw.Description, Image
Pycnosphaera GilgDescription
Sebaea R. Br.Description, Image
Swertia L.Description, Image

Other sources of information about Gentianaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Gentianaceae
Flora of Burundi: Gentianaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Gentianaceae
Flora of the DRC: Gentianaceae
Flora of Malawi: Gentianaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Gentianaceae
Flora of Rwanda: Gentianaceae
Flora of Zambia: Gentianaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Gentianaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Gentianaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Gentianaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Gentianaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Gentianaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Gentianaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Gentianaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Gentianaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Gentianaceae
Wikipedia: Gentianaceae
Plants of the World Online: Gentianaceae
Tropicos: Gentianaceae



Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Family page: Gentianaceae.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=90, retrieved 13 December 2024

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