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21. Pseudomertensia Rield in Rech. f., Fl. Iran. 48:58. 1967. Kazmi in J. Arn. Arb. 51:367.1970.
YASIN J. NASIR
Mertensia Oreocharis (Decne.) Lindl.
Perennial herbs with alternate leaves. Flowers ebracteate, in simple, terminal racemes, blue or blue-purple or shades of it. Corolla 5-lobed; tube as long as or much longer than calyx; throat scales absent or present; basal scales generally present. Stamens 5, exserted or not. Nutlets 4, keeled ventrally. The monotypic genus Decalipedanthus comprising of Decalipedanthus sericophyllus was described and included by Riedl in the tribe Lithospermae, because of the presence of a flat gynobase and a 2 fid stigma. Because of lack of fruiting material in the Type specimen examined, I was unable to verify the nature of the gynobase (areole). The stigma however on examination proved to be only slightly bibbed or sub-capitate. The genus in a combination of characters has marked similarities with Pseudomertensia and in particular with Pseudomertensia parvifolia (Moltkia parvifolia; Mertensia exserta): A similar inflorescence, exserted stamens, lack of throat scales, 10 basal or nectar scales and a similar geographical range. Although Riedl described faucal (throat) scales in his new genus, he seems to have confused them with nectar or basal scales. Ten such basal scales are present in the corolla tube of Decalipedanthus and Pseudomertensia; they also occur in various other genera as Onosma, Myosotis, Nonea, Lappula, Echium etc. (see figs 26-29, 30-31, 39, 40). These scales appear to have no taxonomic value and serve simply to protect the underlying nectar.
Species c. 11, found from Iran, Afghanistan eastwards to Nepal. Represented by about the same number of species from Pakistan.
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| 1 |
Anthers exserted from corolla tube. Filaments 2-5 mm long |
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(2) |
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Anthers included or subexserted from corolla tube. Filaments less than 2 mm long |
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(3) |
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| 2 (1) |
Leaves oblanceolate to narrow oblong, 30-50 mm long, Flowers blue. Stigma capitate |
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1 Pseudomertensia parvifolia |
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Leaves lanceolate, 50-90 mm long. Flowers purplish-blue, stigma slightly bibbed |
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2 Pseudomertensia sericophylla |
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| 3 (1) |
Corolla about calyx size; corolla lobes 1-1.5 mm long; throat scales absent |
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(4) |
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Corolla exceeding calyx size; corolla lobes 2-3 mm long; throat scales present |
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3 Pseudomertensia trollii |
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| 4 (3) |
Corolla with throat scales absent or very feebly developed |
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(5) |
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Corolla with throat scales present, generally well-developed |
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(6) |
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| 5 (4) |
Corolla throat not constricted, minutely pubescent internally. Filaments 1.5-2 mm long |
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6 Pseudomertensia efornicata |
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Corolla throat constricted, glabrous to the inside. Filaments less than 0.8 mm long |
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4 Pseudomertensia echioides |
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| 6 (4) |
Corolla campanulate |
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7 Pseudomertensia elongata |
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Corolla cylindrical or infundibuliform |
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(7) |
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| 7 (6) |
Corolla with throat scales longer than broad |
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(8) |
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Corolla with throat scales broader than long |
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(9) |
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| 8 (7) |
Throat scales 2-3 x 1-1.5 mm, margin ciliate |
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10 Pseudomertensia drummondii |
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Throat scales 0.8-1.2 mm, margin not ciliate |
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11 Pseudomertensia chitralensis |
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| 9 (7) |
Filaments longer than or equalling the anther length |
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5 Pseudomertensia anjumiae |
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Filaments shorter than anther length |
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(10) |
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| 10 (9) |
Leaves including petioles, 50-130 x 10-15 mm. Corolla tube twice as long as calyx. Anthers up to 1 mm long |
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9 Pseudomertensia nemorosa |
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Leaves including petioles, 20-90 x 4-10 mm broad. Corolla tube 3-5 times calyx length. An thers 1.4-1.7 mm long |
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8 Pseudomertensia moltkioides |
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List of lower taxa
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