Orobanchaceae

Abstract

The latest classification of flowering plants, the APG IV, enlarged Orobanchaceae to include genus of Rehmannia, making Rehmannia Libosch. ex Fisch. et Mey., the only other genus, along with Lindenbergia, to not be parasitic within the family. The plants are in Rehmannia Libosch. ex Fisch. et Mey. genus, often perennial herbs. Rhizomes are present. Stems are erect, simple, or branched from base. Basal leaves are rosulate, and stem leaves are alternate and petiolate. Leaf blades are varying in shape, often hairy, margin toothed, or lobed. Inflorescences are sometimes scapose. Flowers are axillary and solitary or in terminal racemes and pedicellate. Bracteoles are present or absent. Calyx is 5–7-lobed. Corolla is purple-red or yellow and tubular. Tubes are slightly curved or straight, dorsiventrally compressed, with two plaits from tube base to throat. Limbs are 2-lipped and 5-lobed. Stamens are four, didynamous, rarely five and with one smaller than the other four, and included. Anthers are coherent in pairs. Locules are fertile. Ovary is base with a disk, 2-loculed and rarely 1-loculed. Ovules are numerous. Stigma is 2-lamellate. Capsules are with persistent calyx and loculicidal. Seeds are minute and seed coats are reticulate. Only one species, Rehmannia chingii H. L. Li, is illustrated in this chapter.