35. Velezia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 332. 1753. Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 155. 1754.
[For Cristóbal Velez, ca. 1710-1753, a friend of the botanist Pehr Loefling]
Ronald L. Hartman, Richard K. Rabeler
Herbs, annual. Taproots slender. Stems simple or branched, terete. Leaves connate proximally by line of tissue or sheath, sessile; blade 3-veined, linear to subulate, apex acute. Inflorescences axillary, flowers generally solitary; bracts foliaceous; involucel bracteoles absent. Pedicels erect. Flowers: sepals 11-15 mm; tube green, 15-veined, narrowly cylindric, terete, commissures between sepals absent, lobes green or reddish, 3-veined proximally, lanceolate-acuminate, shorter than tube, margins silvery, scarious, apex acute; petals 5, pink or purple, clawed, auricles absent, corona of 6-8, linear to lanceolate segments, blade apex entire or notched; nectaries at filament bases; stamens 5; filaments distinct; staminodes absent; ovary 1-locular; styles 2, 9-10 mm, glabrous proximally; stigmas 2, linear along adaxial surface of styles, papillate (30×). Capsules narrowly cylindric, opening by 4 ascending teeth; carpophore present. Seeds 6-8, black, ovate-oblong, dorsiventrally compressed, finely papillate, marginal wing absent, appendage absent; embryo central, straight. x = 14.
Species 6 (1 in the flora): introduced; Europe (Mediterranean region), sw, c Asia.
