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• Taxonomy
• Genera
• Bibliography
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Taxonomy

Genera

Beta

Herbs, annual, biennial, or perennial, often with fleshy, thickened roots, glabrous throughout. Stems erect or procumbent, not jointed, not armed, not fleshy. Leaves alternate, petiolate or sessile; blade ovate-cordate to rhombic-cuneate, margins ± entire, apex obtuse . Inflorescences spikelike cymes or glomerules, ebracteate at least in distal 1/2. Flowers bisexual, bracteate; perianth segments 3-5, distinct, sometimes petaloid, rounded or keeled abaxially, wings and spines absent; stamens 5; ovary semi-inferior; stigmas usually 2-3(-5), connate basally. Fruiting structures achenes, connate with receptacle, often enclosed by swollen perianth. Seeds horizontal, orbicular or reniform; seed coat dark brown, smooth; embryo ± annular, perisperm copious. x = 9.^[1] [more]

At least 304 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Beta.

More info about the Genus Beta may be found here.

Kniphofia

Kniphofia (Tritoma, Red hot poker, Torch lily, Poker plant) is a genus of plants in the family Asphodelaceae that includes 70 or more species native to Africa. Some species have been commercially used for horticultural use and are commonly known for their bright, rocket-shaped flowers. [more]

At least 457 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Kniphofia.

More info about the Genus Kniphofia may be found here.

Maianthemum

Herbs, perennial, terrestrial or aquatic, 1-12.5 dm, from rhizomes. Rhizomes persistent, sympodial, spreading and filiform, or densely clumped, cylindrical, and fleshy. Stems simple, arching or erect. Leaves 2-15, cauline, distichous, clasping or short-petiolate; blade usually ovate, glabrous or weakly pubescent, base rounded or cordiform, margins flat or undulate, denticulate or entire, apex acute or caudate. Inflorescences terminally paniculate or racemose, 5-250-flowered. Flowers 3-merous (6 tepals, 6 stamens) or, by reduction, 2-merous (4 tepals, 4 stamens) ; perianth spreading; tepals distinct, white, ovate or triangular, equal, 0.5-5 mm; stamens inserted at tepal base; anthers 4-locular, dehiscence introrse; ovary superior, 2-3-carpellate, septal walls with nectariferous canals; style shorter than 1.5 mm; stigma 2-3-lobed, less than 1 mm wide; pedicel subtended by 1 or more bracts. Fruits baccate, variously mottled when immature, bright red at maturity, usually lobed, 4-12 mm wide, pulp thin. Seeds 1-12, globose, 3-6 mm diam.; testa pale brown, thin; endosperm scaly. x = 18.^[2] [more]

At least 86 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Maianthemum.

More info about the Genus Maianthemum may be found here.

Bibliography

• Ford-Lloyd, B. V. and J. T. Williams. 1975. A revision of Beta section Vulgares (Chenopodiaceae), with new light on the origin of cultivated herbs. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 71: 89-102.
• Kawano, S., M. Suzuki and S. Kojima. 1971. Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae-Polygonateae [sic]). V. Variation in gross morphology, karyology and ecology of North American populations of M. dilatatum sensu lato. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 84: 299-318.
• Kawano, S. and H. H. Iltis. 1966. Cytotaxonomy of the genus Smilacina. II. Chromosome morphology and evolutionary consideration of the New World species. Cytologia 31: 12-28.
• Kawano, S. and M. Suzuki. 1971. Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae-Polygonateae [sic]). VI. Variation in gross morphology of M. bifolium and M. canadense with special reference to their taxonomic status. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 84: 349-361.
• Kawano, S., M. Ihara, M. Suzuki, and H. H. Iltis. 1967. Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae). I. Somatic chromosome number and morphology. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 80: 345-352.
• Kawano, S., M. Ihara, and M. Suzuki. 1968b. Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae-Polygonateae [sic]). IV. Variation in gross morphology of M. kamtschaticum. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 81: 473-490.
• Kawano, S., M. Ihara, and M. Suzuki. 1968. Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae-Polygonateae [sic]). II. Geography and ecological life history. Jap. J. Bot. 20: 35-65.
• LaFrankie, J. V. 1984. Anatomy of stem abcission in the genus Smilacina (Liliaceae). J. Arnold Arbor. 65: 563-570.
• LaFrankie, J. V. 1986. Transfer of the species of Smilacina Desf. to Maianthemum Wiggers (Liliaceae). Taxon 35: 584-589.
• LaFrankie, J. V. 1986b. Morphology and taxonomy of the New World species of Maianthemum (Liliaceae). J. Arnold Arbor. 67: 371-439.
• Takahashi, M. and K. Sohma. 1983. Pollen morphology of the genus Smilacina (Liliaceae). Sci. Rep. Tohoku Imp. Univ., Ser. 4, Biol. 38: 191-218.
• Utech, F. H. and S. Kawano. 1976. Biosystematic studies on Maianthemum (Liliaceae). VIII. Floral anatomy of M. dilatatum, M. bifolium, M. canadense. Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 89: 145-157.
• Valentine, D. H. and H. M. Hassan. 1971. Cytotaxonomy of the genus Maianthemum. J. Indian Bot. Soc. 50: 437-446.

Footnotes

1. Leila M. Shultz "Beta". in Flora of North America Vol. 4 Page 258, 261, 266. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
2. James V. LaFrankie "Maianthemum". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 19, 57, 206, 207. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.

Sources

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