6. Gisekia Linnaeus, Mant. Pl. 2: 554, 562 (as Gisechia). 1771.
[For Paul Dietrich Giseke, 1741-1796, German professor, botanist, and pupil of Linnaeus]
Herbs, annual. Leaves opposite or appearing whorled. Inflorescences axillary, compound dichasia, appearing umbelliform. Flowers: sepals 5; stamens 5; carpels 5, free; ovaries 5, each 1-loculed; style and stigma 1 per carpel; stigma terminal. Fruits: group of thin-walled, lenticular achenes. Seed 1 per carpel.
Species ca. 5 (1 in the flora): North America, Eurasia, Africa.
Described as "debatably phytolaccaceous" by G. K. Rogers (1985), Gisekia has been referred also to Aizoaceae, Molluginaceae, and even Portulacaceae---and, perhaps the best solution, to its own family, Gisekiaceae.
The generic name is sometimes misspelled as "Giesekia."
SELECTED REFERENCES
Bogle, A. L. 1970b. The genera of Molluginaceae and Aizoaceae in the southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 51: 431-462. Gilbert, M. G. 1993. A review of Gisekia (Gisekiaceae). Kew Bull. 48: 343-356. Godfrey, R. K. 1961. Gisekia pharnacioides, a new weed. Rhodora 63: 226-228. Narayana, L. L. and P. S. Narayana. 1989. The bearing of amino acids on the status and systematic position of Gisekia Linnaeus. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 13: 699-704. Narayana, P. S. and L. L. Narayana. 1988. Systematic position of Gisekia Linnaeus---a numerical assessment. Feddes Repert. 99: 189-193.
