Polyspatha hirsuta · Kew POWO · Kew Plants of the World Online
Polyspatha
Sign in to savePolyspatha is a genus of perennial monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Commelinaceae. It is restricted to tropical Africa consists of three recognized species.
Species
GENUS
- KingdomPlantae
- PhylumTracheophyta
- ClassLiliopsida
- OrderCommelinales
- FamilyCommelinaceae
Appearance: Herb similar to last (Polyspatha paniculata)
via GBIF · Kew POWO
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Polyspatha paniculata CB Clarke Monographiae Phaneorogamarum Tab 3.jpeg
Show 3 more facts
- Commons category
- Polyspatha
- taxon name
- Polyspatha
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
~1 min read
Article
1 sectionsContents
- References
Polyspatha is a genus of perennial monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Commelinaceae. It is restricted to tropical Africa consists of three recognized species.
The genus is characterised by its unique leaf-like bracts that subtend inflorescences (often called spathes), which are arranged oppositely up the flowering shoot. Plants in the genus also have white flowers, two carpels with one seed in each, and vegetative reproduction by stolons. Along with most other genera of the Commelineae tribe with relatively few species, Polyspatha is found in tropical forest understories, and also in disturbed shady locations. Species Polyspatha paniculata Benth. - western + central Africa from Sierra Leone to Zaire + Tanzania Polyspatha oligospatha Faden - western + central Africa from Ivory Coast to Zaire + Sudan Polyspatha hirsuta Mildbr. - western + central Africa from Sierra Leone to Zaire + Uganda