Glinus

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 463. 1753.

,

Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 208. 1754.

Common names: Damascisa
Etymology: Greek glinos, sweet juice
Synonyms: Nemallosis Rafinesque
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 511. Mentioned on page 76, 509, 510.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA4 P83 Anredera versicaria pg 507.jpegAnredera vesicaria
Mollugo verticillata
Glinus lotoides
Bee F. Gunn
Bee F. Gunn
Bee F. Gunn

Herbs, annual, stellate, pubescent. Stems prostrate to ascending, branching from base. Leaves alternate or whorled; stipules absent. Inflorescences axillary, cymose; cymes dense, reduced. Flowers sessile or short pedicellate; sepals persistent, 5, basally connate, abaxially stellate-pubescent; petals absent (or 5–20); stamens (3–) 5 (–20), alternate with sepals, distinct or fascicled; pistils 3–5-locular; ovules 10–25 per locule; styles 1 (–5), terminal, erect, or stigmas sessile. Fruits capsular, 3–5-valved. Seeds: somewhat flattened laterally, asymmetrically reniform, smooth to tuberculate, funiculus develops into a long, slender strophiole. x = 9.

Distribution

North America, West Indies, Central America, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Australia

Discussion

Species 6 (2 in the flora).

Several species of Glinus have medicinal value. Glinus oppositifolius has been used as a vegetable in Africa, India, and the Philippines, and to treat diarrhea, boils, bilious attacks, headache, and joint pain (H. M. Burkill 1985; K. R. Kirtikar and B. D. Basu 1935; A. K. Tripathi 1988). K. M. Alikutty and N. M. Aleyas (1978) presented evidence that G. oppositifolius is toxic to cattle, when fed in large quantities.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Seeds smooth, highly glossy, 0.4-0.5 × 0.2-0.3 mm; sepal apex long-acuminate or attenuate Glinus radiatus
1 Seeds papillate, somewhat glossy or dull, 0.4-0.6 × 0.3-0.4 mm; sepal apex rounded to acute or slightly mucronate Glinus lotoides
... more about "Glinus"
Michael A. Vincent +
Linnaeus +
Damascisa +
reduced +
North America +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America +, Eurasia +, Africa +  and Australia +
Greek glinos, sweet juice +
pedicellate +, short +  and sessile +
3-5-valved +  and capsular +
whorled +  and alternate +
connate +  and distinct +
appearing +  and axile +
3-aperturate +
Sp. Pl. +  and Gen. Pl. ed. +
1753 +  and 1754 +
strophiolate +
smooth;tuberculate +
reniform;flattened +
persistent +
stellate-pubescent +
hypogynous +
prostrate;ascending +
3 +  and 5 +
Nemallosis +
Molluginaceae +