Symphyllophyton Gilg

Nat. Pflanzenfam. Nachtr. [Engler & Prantl] I. 283 (1897); complemented by Gilg (in Engler Beibl. Bot. Jahrb.60: 43 (1898).

Type:— BRAZIL: Goiás: “ Brasilia: civit. Goyaz, Morro das Lajes, prope urbem Goyaz, inter saxa. Symphyllophyton caprifolioides (...) - see comments below

Lectotypus hic designatus: Glaziou 21773 R!, Isolectotypi: K (photo!), P (photo!) .

Annual herbs or subshrubs; stems terete, branched. Leaves opposite, the basal ones forming a rosette, those along the stem perfoliate, connate or free. Inflorescence lax cymes, disposed in dichasia; peduncles with leafy bracts. Flowers 4-merous, actinomorphic. Calyx tube shorter than the lobes; colleters absent. Corolla infundibuliform to salverform, persistent. Stamens 4, didynamous, inserted at the distal portion of the corolla tube, one pair with short filaments and anthers partly included, the other pair with long filaments and anthers exserted; anthers longitudinally dehiscent, connectives projected, erect after anthesis; pollen in tetrads with reticulate exine. Ovary short-pedunculate, oblong, apically attenuate, unilocular, with two thickened placentae, multiovulate; style filiform, bilobed, included or exserted.

Distribution and habitat: — Symphyllophyton is endemic to Brazil, with species known mainly from Cerrado vegetation in the states of Bahia, Goiás, Maranhão, Piauí and Tocantins (Figure 1).