Burmannia

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 287. 1753.

,

Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 139. 1754.

Etymology: For Johannes Burman, 1707–1779, Dutch botanist
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 487.
Revision as of 22:12, 27 May 2020 by imported>Volume Importer

Plants annual, autotrophic, at least partly green. Rhizomes absent. Roots filiform. Stems usually unbranched, green. Leaves cauline, sometimes basal, green, purplish, or pale, scalelike to linear. Inflorescences 2–25-flowered cymes or flowers solitary; floral bracts sometimes appearing imbricate if internodes of cyme rachis are very short; pedicels 0–1 mm. Flowers erect, 3-ribbed to 3-winged; perianth persistent in fruit; annulus absent; stamens 3, proximal to inner perianth lobes, sessile; ovary 3-locular; placentation axile. Capsules obovoid to ellipsoid, transversely dehiscent.

Distribution

Mostly tropical and subtropical, Western Hemisphere, Africa, Asia (China).

Discussion

Species ca. 60 (3 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Flowers 3-ribbed or slightly 3-winged; inflorescences usually appearing capitate; inner perianth lobes usually less than 2/3 length of outer lobes. Burmannia capitata
1 Flowers distinctly 3-winged; inflorescences loosely flowered cymes or flowers solitary; inner perianth lobes 2/3 to nearly equaling length of outer lobes. > 2
2 Flowers bluish with perianth lobes paler, often cream-colored; basal leaves absent. Burmannia biflora
2 Flowers yellow or greenish; basal leaves present. Burmannia flava