PlantNET Home DONATE TODAY | PlantNET Home | Search NSW Flora | Contact Us  
FloraOnline
Introduction
Plant Name Search
Index Search
Spatial Search
Identification Keys
Classification
Glossary
WeedAlert
Telopea Journal
Other Data Sources
NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE Printable Page

Genus Spermacoce Family Rubiaceae

Description: Annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs, prostrate to erect.

Leaves opposite, occasionally crowded and appearing whorled, shortly petiolate, often appearing sessile. Stipules sheathing; margin fimbriate.

Inflorescence a terminal, compact capitulum or axillary clusters, often subtended by one or more pairs leafy bracts. Flowers bisexual, subsessile, intermixed with numerous filiform structures (‘pales’). Calyx usually 4-lobed, occasionally 2-lobed (not in NSW), persistent in fruit. Corolla narrowly cylindrical to broadly funnel-shaped; lobes valvate, sometimes with appendages on inner surface (not in NSW). Stamens 4, inserted on corolla tube, included in or exserted from (not in NSW) corolla tube. Ovary 2-locular; ovules 1 per loculus; nectary disc on top of ovary, often papillose; style filiform; stigma mostly 2-lobed, included in or exserted from (not in NSW) corolla tube.

Fruit a capsule, usually 2-valved, dehiscing septicidally. Seeds smooth to deeply reticulate, with raphides around the margin of ventral groove, often with persistent obturator (not in NSW).


Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 300 species tropical and subtropical, Australia: c.70 species currently described, with much undescribed species diversity likely in Western Australia (Kimberley region) and north Queensland.

Text by Adapted from T.A. James and Harwood & Dessein by K.L. Gibbons, Oct 2019.
Taxon concept: T.A. James, Flora of NSW, Vol 3; Harwood, R. and Dessein, S. (2005) Australian Spermacoce (Rubiaceae: Spermacoceae). I. Northern Territory. Australian Systematic Botany 18, 297–365

One species in NSW: Spermacoce brachystema

  Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About PlantNET | Cite PlantNET