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Shrubs, undershrubs or herbs stellate-hairy. Leaves simple, alternate, petiolate,
entire or 3 -
5-lobed, serrate, basal serrations mostly glandular; stipules persistent, rarely
fugaceous. Inflorescences axillary or leaf-opposed, dense fascicles of 3-flowered dichasia. Flowers pedicellate, 5-merous, bisexual or female. Sepals 5, free, often hooded,
valvate. Petals 5, free, mostly ciliate and pitted-glandular at base, rarely petals absent.
stamens many, or rarely twice as many as sepals, free, inserted above 5-angular receptacle; anthers dehiscing lengthwise. Carpels 2 - 5, syncarpous; ovary usually with
uncinate hairs, 2 -
5-loculed; locules 2-ovuled; style filiform; stigma 2 -
5-lobed. Capsules
indehiscent or separating into cocci, echinate or setose, rarely tuberculate all over,
bristles often hooked at apex, 2 - 5-loculed; locules 1- or 2-seeded. Seeds ovoid to
obovoid, endospermous; embryo straight; cotyledons flat, foliaceous.
Tropical and subtropical regions of the world; 160 species; 8 in India.
KEY TO THE SPECIES
| b. Erect shrubs, undershrubs or herbs
|
2
|
| 2a. Stems glabrous except for an alternating line of hairs on internodes; capsules and spines on capsules
glabrous
|
1.
Triumfetta annua
|
| b. Stems hairy all around; capsules pubescent or tomentose; spines on capsules glabrous or hairy
|
3
|
| b. Spines pubescent or tomentose
|
4
|
| 5a. Leaves ovate-oblong; stamens 10 -
12; capsules more than 10 mm across
|
2.
Triumfetta obliqua
|
| b. Leaves ovate-lanceolate to orbicular; stamens 5 - 7; capsules less than 10 mm across
|
8.
Triumfetta tomentosa
|
| b. Capsules up to 5 mm across
|
7
|
| 7a. Lower leaves rhomboid-ovate, 3-lobed or entire; stamens 5 -
10; spines with a line of hairs
|
3.
Triumretta pentandra
|
