5. Kohautia Cham. & Schlecht. in Linnaea. 4: 156. 1829. DC., Prodr. 4: 429. 1830; Bremek. in Verh. K. Nederl. Akad. Wet., Afd. Natuurk. Ser. 2, 48 (2): 56. 1952; Verdc. in Polhill, Fl. Trop. East Afr. (Rubiareae-I) 228. 1976.
S. NAZIMUDDIN AND M. QAISER
Annual or perennial erect herbs or rarely under-shrubs. Stem and branches ±
circular or obtusely quadrangular. Leaves sessile, linear or filiform, rarely linear-lanceolate; 1-nerved or sometimes 3-5 nerved. Stipules 2-lobed or fimbriate, rarely entire. Inflorescence usually paniculate or corymbose, rarely a capitulum, or flowers in pairs, triads or even solitary. Bracts filiform, subulate or narrowly triangular. Flowers small, 4-rarely 5-memos. Calyx 4(-5)-Lobed, lobes equal, subulate, ovate-triangular or triangular, distant on the capsule. Corolla 4(-5)-lobed, lobes ovate-lanceolate, often mucronate-cuspidate. Corolla-tube narrowly cylindrical, upper portion dilated. Stamens included and inserted in the dilated portion of the corolla-tube; sometimes anther tips slightly exserted, dorsi- or basifixed. Ovary bilocular; ovules numerous, immersed in fleshy peltate placentas. Style included; stigma simple and cylindrical or bifid and filiform, always situated ± below the anthers. Capsule globose or ellipsoid, splitting at the apex. Seeds many, angular, usually not becoming shining when moistened.
A genus of about 60 species, distributed in tropical Asia, Africa and Madagascar. Represented in Pakistan by 4 species.
Kohautia is closely related to Oldenlandia and Hedyotis. Many botanists are of the opinion that Kohautia and Oldenlandia should be merged with Hedyotis. However, following Bremekamp (in Verb. K. Nederl. Akad. Wet., Afd. (Rubiaceae-l) Natuurk. Ser. 2, 48(2): 56. 1952) and Verdcourt (in Polhill, Fl. Trop. East Mr. Rubiaceae-I: 228. 1976), we have treated them as separate genera. Moreover, in Kohautia, included anthers and stigma and the position of the stigma below the anthers support the claim of Bremekamp l.c. and Verdcourt l.c. that Kohautia is undoubtedly a genus distinct from Oldenlandia and Hedyotis (for generic affinities of Oldenlandia and Hedyotis see discussion under Hedyotis.
