Re: D. madagascariensis

Don (dngess01@vlsi.ct.louisville.edu)
Tue, 4 May 93 19:30:32 -0400

>Here is what a key could look like:
>Lamina elliptic-obovate, seeds fusiform (0.7-0.9 * 0.2 mm), plant normally
>caulescent but sometimes apparently acaulescent by reduction, inflorescence
>hooked at base, 4-12 flowered......................_D.madagascariensis_

My plants of D. madagascariensis have 6-7 flowers. Inflorescence
definitely hooked at base.

>
>Lamina suborbicular to obovate, seeds ovoid (0.3-0.4 * 0.15-0.2 mm),
>plant +/- caulescent, inflorescence erect from base, 2-7 flowered...
>_D.collinsiae_

My plants of D. collinsiae aren't flowering now. Looking at the comparison
chart made when they were flowering, D. collinsiae had more flowers than
D. madagascariensis. D. collinsiae had 6-12 flowers per inflorescence -
I don't recall if the inflorescence was hooked at the base. I don't recall
if the D. madagascariensis seeds were much larger than that of D. collinsiae.
I can't accurately measure lengths less than 1 mm. anyway. Seeds of both
species were sown and I don't have any more to compare. I should have
D. madagascariensis seeds again soon as the seed pods ripen. I did note
that most of the D. madagascariensis seeds were more fusiform or linear
than most of the D. collinsiae seeds, although many seeds looked identical.
Lamina of both species are mostly obovate (ovals with wide part farther
away from the crown). Lamina of my D. madagascariensis is longer and less
wide than D. collinsiae, although this difference may be due to the
age of my plants.