Chenopodiaceae
Creators: name: Kuehn, U.
Publisher: name: Springer-Verlag
Year: 1993
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Magnoliopsida
Caryophyllales
Chenopodiaceae

description: KEY TO THE GENERA OF CHENOPODIACEAE
1. Embryo spiral; perisperm absent; perianth often accrescent with wings or spines 67
Embryo annular or curved, rarely straight, perisperm usually abundant; perianth rarely accrescent; or if accrescent with wings or spines then ebracteolate 2
2. Flowers 1(-3) in the axils of leaf-like bracts; leaves mostly linear to filiform, terete, sometimes fleshy 65
Flowers usually in spiciform or paniculate inflorescences; rarely few to one in sessile axillary clusters; leaves mostly broad, sometimes narrow, fleshy or scale-like 3
3 Leaves not reduced to tubercles or scales; stem not or rarely articulate; perianth mostly 4-5-merous with 5-2 stamens; bracteoles present or absent; flowers not sunken into cavities in the axis 17
Free part of leaf reduced to a scale or tubercle; stems often articulate; perianth often 2-4-lobed, with mostly 1-2(-3) free stamens; flowers bracteolate, usually in groups of 3 sunken into cavities in the axis of the spiciform inflorescences 4
4 Leaves usually opposite, connate; stems articulate 6
Leaves alternate, amplexicaul; stems entire 5
5 Perianth tube 3-lobed; embryo hooked or semi-annular 45. Halopeplis
Perianth tube 4-lobed or none; embryo annular 46. Kalidium
6 Small shrubs or herbs; bracts connate, sometimes free, opposite, seldom spirally arranged, persistent; perianth adnate to the axis, seldom free 10
Small trees or shrubs; bracts free, spirally arranged, seldom opposite, deciduous; perianth free from the axis 7
7 Bracts altemate, spirally arranged, persistent 47. Allenroyea
Bracts opposite, caducous 8
8 Leaves reduced to suborbicular scales; flowers solitary, perianth 4-lobed; stamens 2, lateral; radicle lateral or ascending 50. Heterostachys
Leaves succulent scales, not surborbicular; flowers in groups of 3(-2); perianth 3-lobed; stamen 1, anterior; radicle inferior 9
9. Perianth lobes connate to just below the apex, fleshy, membranous in fruit and distinctly 3-angled 49. Halostachys
Perianth lobes connate below the middle, the lateral pair gibbous, green, herbaceous 48. Halocnemum
10 Perisperm abundant; stamen 1, abaxial ll
Perisperm absent; stamens 1-2 abaxial and adaxial; embryo horseshoe-shaped or conduplicate 58. Salicomia
11. Flowers solitary in the axils of foliage leaves; plants dioecious 57. Tegicomia
Flowers in groups of three in the axils of bracts; plants polygamous or bisexual l2
12 Lateral flowers of triad bisexual or pistillate 15
Lateral flowers of triad staminate 13
13 Flowers concealed by the bracts; equal in form and height; perianth becoming succulent or spongy in fruit; testa crustaceous, granular or smooth 53. Arthrocnemum
Flowers exserted from the bracts, dimorphic; perianth unmodified in fruit; testa membranous and smooth 14
14 Embryo annular; seed orbicular; leaf-lobes prominent, fleshy, divaricate 51. Pachycornia
Embryo straight or slightly curved; seed ovoid; leaf-lobes reduced, scarious 52. Sclerostegia
15.Perianth of 2 succulent, lateral tepals; bracts with lleshy margins 56. Tecticornia
Perianth 3-4-lobcd; bracts completely succulent or membranous 16
16 Annual herbs; bracts scale-like; flowers free from the bracts and from each other 54. Microcnemum
Shrubs; bracts succulent; flowers adnate to the bracts and with each other 55. Halosarcia
17 Fruit indehiscent 22
Fruit deshiscent by a circumscissile lid 18
18 Perianth perigynous, sometimes petaloid, stamens basally fused; flowers fused by their indurated bases 5. Beta
Perianth hypogynous, always herbaceous; stamens and flowers basally free 19
19 Perianth erect in fruit; stamens 0-3 21
Perianth stellately expanded in fruit, stamens 5 20
20 Plant climbing; flowers in a compound panicle; perianth lobes 3-nerved; 1-2 small bracteoles present 2. Hablitzia
Plant not climbing; flowers in i reduced dichasia, those arranged raceme-like; perianth lobes 1-nerved; bracteoles absent 3. Oreobliton
21 Perianth lobes usually 3; fruit 3-5-ridged; embryo incom pletely annular; branches without terminal spines in fruit 4. Aphanisma
Perianth lobes 5; fruit smooth, not 3-5-ridged; embryo annular; branches with terminal spines in fruit 1. Acroglochin
22 Flowers usually unisexual; pistillate flowers usually without perianth, bracteolate 50
Flowers usually bisexual; sometimes intermixed with pistillate ones, if unisexual then ebracteolate and with a perianth 23
23 Leaves narrow, linear oblong to lanceolate without a distinct petiole, though often narrowed towards base, then perianth horizontally winged; plants with straight, simple or stellate hairs 30
Leaves usually broad, distinctly petiolate; plants usually with vesicular or glandular hairs 24
24 Pericarp baccate; Howers often unisexual 29
Pericarp mostly dry, coriaceous or membranous; f1owers rarely unisexual 25
25.Perianth segment 1 or wanting, membranous, somewhat clavate but not hooded 12. Monolepis
Perianth segments 2-5(-8), usually herbaceous with membranous margins, or if 2-3, strongly hooded 26
26 Flowers bracteate and bracteolate 8. Baolia
Flowers ebracteate and ebractcolate 27
27 Plant with a basal rosette of leaves 10. Scleroblitum
Plant without a basal rosette of leaves 28
28 Leaves vesicular or glandular hairy or glabrous; perianth segments 5(2-8), i herbaceous 9. Chenopodium
Leaves glandular hairy; perianth segments 2-4, membranous ll. Dysphania
29. Trailing shrubs; seed vertical 7. Holmbergia
Erect shrubs; seed horizontal 6. Rhagodia
30. Hairs unbranched; perianth always well developed 34
Hairs stellate or dendritic, at least on the bracts, very rarely glabrous, then perianth petaloid; perianth often rudimentary 31
31. Fruits enclosed by the persistent perianth, becoming embedded in the woody branch axis 32. Eremophea
Fruits not enclosed by the perianth, not embedded in the branch axis 32
32. Perianth connate; lobes 5, petaloid, equal; fruit not hidden between bracts 44. Anthochlamys
Perianth free, sometimes wanting; lobes herbaceous. if 5 then lobes unequal; fruit hidden between bracts 33
33. Fruit plano convex, not beaked; leaves herbaceous, if 5 mostly 1-3-veined 42. Corispennum
Fruit flat at both sides, with 2 sharp beaks at the apex; leaves stiff, having 3 to many nerves 43. Agriophyllum
34. Flowers usually solitary in the leaf axils; fruiting perianth often much enlarged, hardened crustaceous or succulent, rarely membranous or scarious, often modified opposite the radicle 41
Flowers usually in spiciform or paniculate inflorescences; fruiting perianth chartaceous, membranous or scarious, unmodified opposite the radicle 35
35. Fruiting perianth accrescent, chartaceous; seeds usually horizontal; embryo annular or subannular 38
Fruiting perianth unmodified, membranous or scarious; seeds vertical; embryo horseshoe-shaped 36
36. Perianth 4-merous, often with 2 longer lateral lobes; leaves linear-filiform 27. Camphorosma
Perianth 5-merous; leaves lanceolate or oblong 37
37. Perianth minutely winged in fruit, tubercled on the back 26. Panderia
Perianth wingless in fruit; not tubercled on the back 25. Kirilowia
38 Fruiting perianth with a 5-lobed, annular wing, sometimes drawn out into spines; inflorescence paniculate 28. Cycloloma
Fruiting perianth with spines, tubercles, 5 free wings or without appendages; inflorescence spicate 39
39 Fruiting perianth without appendages or with short, wartlike tubercles 40
Fruiting perianth with wings or spines 30. Bassia (incl. Kochia)
40. Fruiting perianth membranous, free from the pericarp; perisperm sparse or absent 29. Chenolea
Fruting perianth scarious, adnate for the pericarp; perisperm abundant 30. Bassia
41. Fruiting perianth hardly accrescent, unappendaged, shor" ter than the nut-like pericarp 41. Roycea
Fruiting perianth often much accrescent, with various appendages; pericarp within the perianth 42
42. Wings, spines or lobes usually tepaline 45
Wings, spines or lobes intertepaline 43
43. Fruiting perianth with 2-11 spines or lobes. usually with a spine or tubercle opposite the radicle 40. Sclerolaena
Fruiting perianth with vertical wings or succulent and lobed, unmodified opposite the radicle 44
44. Seed horizontal; fruiting perianth thickened with 2-5, erect, intertepaline wings, unmodified opposite the radicle 38. Babbagia
Seed vertical; fruiting perianth with a succulent outer layer and with short lobes or tubercles; occasionally with a slit opposite the radicle 39. Threlkeldia
45. Fruiting perianth with thickened wings or spines; often without a slit opposite the radicle 47
Fruiting perianth with membranous wings and a slit or channel opposite the radicle 46
46 Fruiting perianth succulent; wings minute or absent 33. Enchylaena
Fruiting perianth crustaceous to woody; wing (or wings) distinct, horizontal (or both horizontal and vertical) 31. Maireana
47. Seed horizontal; radicle ascending or centrifugal 49
Seed vertical; radicle superior 48
48 Flowers paired, joined at the base; fruiting perianth with 5 scarious or thickened wings 34. Didymanthus
Flowers solitary; fruiting perianth with 5 spines or lobes 35. Neobassia
49 Fruiting perianth with 3 soft, horn-like appendages; flowers solitary or if in pairs then not fused together in fruit 36. Malacocera
Fruiting perianth with hard spine-like appendages; flowers 2-15, joined to form spherical heads 37. Dissocalpus
50 Bracteoles connate only basally or at most up to the middle, membranous 59
Bracteoles connate 2/3 of their length or almost to the top, often spongy or fleshy 51
51 Bracteoles markedly spongy or fleshy 15. Atriplex
Bracteoles dry, membranous 52
52 Plants glabrous, farinose or with vesicular hairs 55
Plants with stellate-dendroid hairs; if not then 2-keeled bracteoles winged in fruit 53
53 Bracteoles keeled, keel becoming a broad wing in fruit 21. Grayia
Bracteoles spinous in fruit 54
54. Annual; stamens 1(-2); perianth 2-lobed at the apex; leaves acute, spinous 22. Ceratocmpus
Perennial; stamens 4; perianth 4-lobed at the apex; leaves obtuse or acute, never spinous 20. Krascheninnikovia
55 Seeds horizontal; bracteoles 6-keeled 24. Zuckia
Seeds vertical; bracteoles appendaged or not, but never 6- keeled 56
56. Stigmas 4-5; radicle pointing downward, bracteoles 2-4- toothed 23. Spinacia
Stigmas 2-3; radicle pointing upward, bracteoles entire or 2-toothes or 2-lobed 57
57 Fruit transversely compressed in relation to the bracteoles 15. Atriplex
Fruit compressed parallel to the bracteoles or several female flowers subtended by one large 58
58 Perianth of pistillate flowers present 14. Endolepis
Perianth of pistillate flowers absent 15. Atriplex
59 Bracteoles vertically keeled; perianth of the staminate flowers subglobose, lobes unequal 19. Suckleya
Bracteoles smooth or appendaged, but never vertically keeled; perianth of the staminate flowers oblong, campanulate or urceolate, but never subglobose, lobes i equal 60
60 Bracteoles larger, i modified in fruit, enclosing the fruit 64
Bracteoles (not bractsl) small, unmodified in fruit, not enclosing the fruit 61
61 Perianth of pistillate flowers present, 3-4-lobed 62
Perianth of pistillate flowers absent or rudimentary 63
62. Plant covered with stellate-dendroid hairs 13. Axyris
Plant covered with unicellular inflated hairs 17. Archiatriplex
63. Annual herb; perianth-lobes hyaline; stigmas filiform; pericarp inflated; embryo horseshoe-shaped 18. Microgynoecium
Shrub; perianth-lobes membranous, not hyaline; stigmas narrow cylindrical; pericarp adherent, not inflated; embryo annular 16. Exomis
64 Perianth of pistillate flowers present 14. Endolepis
Perianth of pistillate flowers absent 15. Atriplex
65 Leaves opposite 98. Nitrophila
Leaves altemate 66
66 Leaves and bracteoles filiform, rigid, mostly pungent, deeply grooved 96. Polycnemum
Leaves linear, fleshy, terete, bracteoles broadly oval, acuminate, membranous 97. Hemichroa
67 Flowers ebracteolate; staminate flowers without a perianth, inserted below peltate scales 59. Sarcobatus
Flowers bracteolate; no staminate flowers below peltate scales 68
68 Bracteoles usually as large as or larger than the perianth; stigmas papillose inwardly; embryo mostly conical-spiral 75
Bracteoles (not bracts) scarious, small; stigmas papillose all around; embryo plano-spiral 69
69 Pericarp adherent to the perianth 74
Pericarp free from the perianth or connate only at the base 70
70 Flowers with a lobed disk between stamens and ovary; staminodal lobes deciduous; perianth free 67. Salsola
Flowers without a disk; perianth connate or free 71
71 Perianth-lobes keeled, rounded, thickly hooked or horned, but not winged; flowers subtended by 3 scarious bracteoles 60. Suaeda
Perianth-lobes winged 72
72 Wings broad, horizontal; perianth-lobes equal 60. Suaeda
Wings vertical; perianth-lobes unequal 73
73 Leaves subcylindrical, succulent; bracts not imbricately arranged; seeds horizontal, sometimes vertical 60. Suaeda
Leaves linear-lanceolate, coriaceous; flowers in the axils of imbricately arranged bracts; seeds vertical 61. Alexandra
74 Flowers unisexual; perianth compressed laterally, not winged; seed vertical 63. Borsczowia
Flowers bisexual; perianth compressed horizontally, surrounded by a horizontal wing; seed horizontal 62. Bienertia
75 Fruiting perianth membranous, at most indurated at the base, or if indurated throughout, then perianth horizontally winged 78
Fruiting perianth indurated throughout, but never horizontally winged 76
76 Leavcs opposite; flowers paired, connate at base, sessile on large bracts 87. Nucularia
Leaves alternate; flowers solitary or in many-flowered clusters, free at base, subtended by 2 (-3) bracteoles 77
77 Flowers solitary; perianth lobes equal; anthers acute; disc small; seeds horizontal 85. Traganum
Flowers in many-flowered clusters; perianth lobes unequal; anthers obtuse; disk well developed; seeds vertical 86. Traganopsis
78 Seeds or at least fruits vertical 93
Seeds or at least fruits horizontal 79
79 Upper bracts triangular, concave, the lower ones mucronulate; upper fruits winged, the lower ones Wingless 88. Horaninovia
Bracts and fruits not dimorphic 80
80 Flowers solitary or in several-flowered clusters 82
Inflorescence paniculate 81
81 Disk lobed, ciliate; staminodes semi-orbicular, glandular; leaves stiff 64. Haloxylon
Disk fleshy. not lobed and ciliate; staminodes absent; leaves fleshy 68. Halothamnus
82 Fruiting perianth dorsally tuberculate, thickened at the base 88. Horaninovia
Fruiting perianth i- horizontally or vertically winged 83
83 Perianth subglobular; win gs usually at the apex, sometimes near the middle 73. Arthrophytum
Perianth ovate to oblong; wings usually below the middle 84
84 Anthers with red appendages; style many times longer than stigmas 67. Salsola
Anthers appendaged or not, hut appendages never red: style absent or short 85
85 Stems seemingly leatless 64. Haloxylon
Stems with well-developed or shon leaves 86
86 Perianth segments i free from each other, 5-lobed, bracteoles subequal to the perianth or overtopping it 88
Perianth connate. urceolate, 5-dentate at the apex; bracteoles shorter than the perianth 87
87 Perianth segments vertically winged or crested 79. Fadenia
Perianth horizontally winged 81. Choriptera
88 Anthers without distinct appendages, at most with an acuminate connective 90
Anthers with appendages sagittately split to the base 89
89 Leaves succulent; perianth 3-winged 67. Salsola
Leaves stiff: perianth 5-winged below middle 82. Rhaphidophyton
90 Disk inconspicuous, not lobed 67. Salsola
Disk distinctly 5-lobed 91
91 Leaves opposite 72 Seidlitzia
Leaves alternate 92
92 Annual; perianth readily caducous in fruit; stamens 2-3 71. Halogeton
Undershrub; perianth not readily caducous; stamens 5 74. Iljinia
93 Perianth lobes i free from each other, usually almost to the base 95
Perianth urceolate, connate almost to the apex 94
94 Fruiting perianth with thick, dorsally inflated tips. with the greatest breadth in the upper part; pericarp membranous 80. Sevada
Fruiting perianth with horizontal, dentate wings, with the greatest breadth in the lower part; pericarp indurated 95. Lagenantha
95 Lobes of the fruiting perianth Wingless lll
All or at least the outerlobes of the fruiting perianth bearing wing-like outgrowths, these sometimes reduced to small tubercles, if none, then bracteoles surpassingthe perianth 96
96 Bracteoles not surpassing the perianth, or at most equalling it 99
Bracteoles surpassing the perianth, sometimes tightly enclosing the flower 97
97 Leaves opposite. united basally into a sheath; anthers unappendaged 69. Cyathobasis
Leaves alternate; anthers appendaged 98
98 Wing-like outgrowth tuberculate, borne about the middle of the outer perianth lobes, becoming cartilaginous in fruit 94. Halotis
Wings considerably below the middle of all perianth lobes, not cartilaginous in fruit 82. Rhaphidophyton
99 Leaves and branches alternate 102
Leaves and branches opposite 100
100 Disk inconspicuous 67. Salsola
Disk well developed. 5-lobed 101
101 Stems indistinctly articulate; radicle superior 76. Girgensohnia
Stems distinctly articulate; radicle inferior, rarely ascending 70. Anabasis
102 All 5 perianth lobes winged in fruit 106
Only 2 outer lobes of the perianth, rarely 3, bearing wing-like appendages in fruit, these sometimes reduced to tubercles 103
103 Stamens 1 (-2); 3 outer perianth lobes with rudimentary wings 83. Ofaiston
Stamens 2-5; usually only the 2 outer perianth lobes winged 104
104 Anthers unappendaged; disk lobed 71. Halogeton (Agathophora)
Anthers with bladdery appendages; disk without lobes 105
105 Wings scarious, overlapping at the margins. caducous near the base along a definite line of dehiscence, leaving auricles on the perianth lobes; perianth lobes basally connate 89. Piptoptera
Wings markedly discontiguous at the margins. not caducous; perianth lobes free 78. Halanthium
106 Flowers in several-tlowered heads at the end of the branches _ surrounded by a 2- to several-leaved involucre 65. Sympegma
Flowers not aggregated in heads 107
107 Anthers with red appendages; style many times longer than stigmas 67. Salsola
Anthers appendaged or not, but apendages never red; style shorter, as long as or slightly longer than the subulate stigmas 108
108 Disk inconspicuous. not 5-lobed or papillate 67. Salsola
Disk Well developed, usually 5-lobed and papillate 109
109 Anthers appendaged, perianth lobes membranous, i equal 66. Noaea
Anthers unappendaged 110
110 Annual; perianth readily caducous in fruit; stamens 2-3 71. Halogeton
Undershrub; perianth not readily caducous; stamens 5 74. Iljinia
111 Anthers appendaged 113
Anthers unappendaged, or apically somewhat pointed 112
112 Perianth lobes indurated_ one of them long, beakcd in fruit: fruit enclosed by the perianth 84. Cornulaca
Perianth lobes membranous, accrescent but not beaked; fruit exceeding the perianth 70. Anabasis
113 Shrub; disk 5-lobed, lobes dentate; perianth lobes accrescent in fruit 75. Nanophyton
Annual; disk inconspicuous, not lobed; perianth lobes unmodified in fruit 114
114 Anther appendages scarious_ smooth, 2- or 3-toothed, often connate 92. Petrosimonia
Anther appendages bladdery or scarcely inflated, then covered with minute prickles, never connate 115
115 Perianth lobes connate and indurated in the lower part 93. Halimocnemis
Perianth lobes free to the base, membranous 116
116 Style short, 5-tuberculate in the middle: stigma bilobedcapitate, covered with a radial veil 91. Halarchon
117 Bracts altemate, not connate 77. Halocharis
Bracts opposite or subopposite, connate 90. Gamanthus
description: Published as part of Kuehn, U., 1993, Chenopodiaceae, pp. 253-281 in The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants 2, Berlin, Heidelberg :Springer-Verlag on pages 261-264