Affiliation:
1. University of Port‐Harcourt Faculty of Science Department of Botany Port Harcourt Nigeria
Abstract
SummaryThe family Portulacaceae is represented in Africa (including Madagascar) by eight genera: Anacampseros L., Calyptrotheca Gilg, Ceraria Pearson & Stephens, Montia L., Portulaca L., Portulacaria Jacquin, Talinella Baillon and Talinum Adanson. Four of these, Calyptrotheca, Ceraria, Portulacaria and Talinella which amongst them have 12 species are, however, endemic to Africa. The generic limits of two of these endemics: Ceraria and Portulacaria has been ill defined while the taxonomy of all four genera is lacking in the literature. The generic limits of Ceraria and Portulacaria, and a contribution to the taxonomy of all four genera is evaluated on the basis of comparative palynology. leaf flavonoids, stomata, anatomy and cytology. A key to the genera is provided. Chromosome counts of 2n = 48, 48 and 72 are provided for Ceraria namaquensis, C. pygmaea and C. fruticulosa and 2n = 44 for Portulacaria afra respectively.
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