Donatia

Donatia novae- zelandiae

The Donatia are the only genus in the subfamily Donatioideae in the family of Stylidiaceae. They contain only two types.

Description

The two Donatia species are small perennial herbaceous plants and form solid cushion that reach a diameter of about one meter. In small rosettes sit sessile, simple leaves. Stipules absent.

The single, terminally standing, sessile flowers are radial symmetry to slightly zygomorphic and hermaphroditic. The double perianth consists of three to seven free sepals and five to ten petals free. There are two to three free stamens presence. Two or three carpels have become an inferior ovary fused with an equal number of pencils as the number of carpels. Are formed capsule fruits.

Dissemination

They grow in the cold ( permafrost zone ) to temperate zones with disjunktem area, the one in New Zealand and Tasmania, the other in southern South America.

System

The subfamily Donatioideae is considered by some authors as a separate family Donatiaceae.

• Donatia Donatia novae- zelandiae Hook. f: home are subalpine mountainous regions of the North and South Islands of New Zealand, Stewart Iceland and Tasmania. In small rosettes to stand closely overlapping the dark green, 5-10 mm long leaves. The small white flowers have a diameter of about 5 mm and appear from late spring and summer.
• Donatia fascicularis J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. ( Syn: Donatia magellanica ): home is the Antarctic South America ( Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia ).

Swell

• The Donatiaceae at DELTA family. (English )
• The Donatiaceae family in the flora of New Zealand. (English )