Conspectus of the New Guinean and Southwestern Pacific Genera

A.Placental column (mamelon) with 3-6 basal lobes and the sporogenous cells in the lobes.

Embryo sacs confined to the mamelon Tribe ELYTRANTHEAE Dans.
B. Flowers in triads (dichasia), these aggregated in larger inflorescences
C.Inflorescence a raceme of triads
D. Petals free or shortly united at the base Decaisnina
D. Petals united to the middle or higher Amylotheca
C.Inflorescence a head
E.Head pedunculate, with an involucre of large imbricate bracts Lepeostegeres
E.Head sessile, without an involucre Tetradyas
B. Flowers not in triads, but each subtended by three bracts Macrosolen

A.Placental column (mamelon) simple or absent, with the sporogenous cells in a single central mass.
Embryo sacs ascending in the style Tribe LORANTHEAE Engl.
F.Anthers dorsifixed, versatile Cecarria
F.Anthers basifixed, immobile
G.Flowers primarily in triads (dichasia), these aggregated in larger inflorescences
H.Inflorescence primarily a raceme with whorls of triads Dactyliophora
H.Inflorescence primarily an umbel of triads Amyema
H.Inflorescence a head with an involucre Distrianthes
G. Flowers not in triads
I.Bracts 2 or 3 under each flower. Inflorescence a solitary flower Sogerianthe
I.Bracts single under each flower
J..Inflorescence a head of pedicellate flowers with an involucre Papuanthes
J..Inflorescence primarily a simple raceme Dendrophthoe

Key to the New Guinean and Southwestern Pacific Genera

1a. Leaves sessile, opposite, each pair united at the margins into a cup Tetradyas
b1. Leaves not as above 2
a2. Inflorescence a head with an involucre formed from 2 or more enlarged bracts (this sometimes deciduous) 3
2b. Inflorescence not a head (or if so, then without an involucre) 6
3a. Flowers 8 or more in the head 4
3b. Flowers 6 in the head 5
4a. Bracts 2, persistent, united at the margin when young. Flowers pedicellate. Papuanthes
4b. Bracts in 3-12 pairs, deciduous in the New Guinean species, free. Flowers sessile Lepeostegeres
5a. Corolla 6-merous, gamopetalous Distrianthes
5b. Corolla 4-merous, choripetalous Amyema
6a. Anthers dorsifixed, versatile Cecarria
6b. Anthers basifixed, immobile 7
7a. Petals free or shortly united at the base 8
7b. Petals united to the middle or higher 9
8a. Inflorescence a raceme of opposite triads Decaisnina
8b. Inflorescence a raceme of whorls of triads Dactyliophora
8a. Inflorescence not as above (a simple or compound umbel, a solitary flower or a head) Amyema
9b. Inflorescence a solitary flower Sogerianthe
9a. Inflorescence a simple umbel 11
9b. Inflorescence a simple raceme 10
9c. Inflorescence a raceme of triads Amylotheca
9d. Inflorescence an umbel of triads or tetrads 12
10a. Flowers alternate in the raceme Dendrophthoe
10b. Flowers opposite in the raceme 11
11a. Corolla more than 25 mm long. Bracts usually single under each flower.Amylotheca
11b. Corolla less than 25 mm long. Bracts three under each flower Macrosolen
12a. Flowers in tetrads, all sessile or nearly so Amyema
12b. Flowers in triads with the lateral flowers distinctly pedicellate Amylotheca

key to loranth genera of New Guinea

Updated 25 June 2003