MISOPATES
Misopates
Raf., Autik. Bot.: 158. 1840; Clapham, Tustin & Moore, Fl. Brit. Isles 371. 1990; Stace, New Fl. Brit. Isles 594. 2010; Liang et al., Misopates Raf. (Plantaginaceae), a firstly recorded genus for Fl. of China. Phytotaxa 367(1): 71-77. 2018.
Annual herbs. Leaves entire with single midrib, secondary veins not distinct. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, hypogynous, solitary axillary or in racemes. Calyx lobes 5, connate at base only, lobes distinctly unequal, all longer than corolla tube. Corolla 2-lipped, upper lip erect, 2-lobed; lower lip 3-lobed; tube cylindrical with abaxial rounded pouch at base of tube, lower lip with raised palate closing the mouth of corolla (corolla like Antirrhinum). Stamens 4, didynamous. Ovary 2-locular, loculi unequal. Seeds somewhat flattened, dorsi-ventrally asymmetrical.
8 species
Misopates orontium
Misopates orontium
(L.) Raf., Autikon Bot. 158. 1840; Gaur, Fl. Dist. Garhwal 495. 1999; Clapham et al., Fl. Brit. Isles 371. 1990; Stace, New Flora of Brit. Isles 594. 2010; Liang et al., Misopates Raf. (Plantaginaceae), Phytotaxa 367(1): 71-77. 2018; Antirrhinum orontium Linn., Sp. Pl. 617. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 4: 253. 1885; Collett, Fl. Siml. ed. 2: 348. 1921 (Reprint 1980); Sharma & Kachroo, Fl. Jammu (Illustr) 2: t. 198. 1983; Dhaliwal & Sharma, Fl. Kullu Dist. 475. 1999; Kaur & Sharma, Fl. Sirmaur 460. 2004; Singh & Sharma, Fl. Chamba Dist. 502. 2006.
Annual herb, 15-20 cm long. Stem erect, sparingly branched, more or less glandular pubescent in upper part, lower part glabrous. Upper leaves alternate, lower opposite, 1.5-5 cm x 1-5 mm, sessile or subsessile, linear or oblong-elliptic, attenuate at base, acute or subacute at apex, glabrous, margins entire and revolute, midrib depressed adaxially, prominent abaxially, secondary veins indistinct. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, hypogynous, bilabiate, personate, 8-14 mm long, pale pink or white, streaked with purple, solitary in axils of upper leaves, sessile or subsessile, pedicels 1.5-2 mm long, glandular-pubescent; bracts foliaceous, 1.2-3.5 cm x 1-3 mm, glandular pubescent. Calyx 7-14 mm long, glandular pubescent at base, 5-parted, segments distinctly unequal, linear, acute or subobtuse, spreading, overtopping corolla. Corolla 8-14 mm long, slightly bulged at base; limb 2-lipped: upper lip 4-6 mm long, oblong, erect, 2-lobed; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, lateral lobes larger than middle one, ovate-triangular, middle lobe ligulate, lower lip with raised palate closing mouth of corolla. Stamens 4, didynamous, ca. 6 and 10 mm respectively, anthers ca. 1 mm long. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary ovoid, ca. 2 mm long, pubescent, 2-locular, locules unequal, ovules numerous on axile placentae; style 4-6 mm long, sparsely glandular-pubescent.
Capsules 8-10 mm x 4-5.5 mm, obliquely ovoid, glandular pubescent, opening by apical pores. Seeds 1.1-1.8 mm x 0.7-1.5 mm, oblong, dorsi-ventrally asymmetric, the dorsal face smooth, keeled; ventral face flattened, tuberculate with a central ridge and wide raised sinuate papillose border; dark brown to black. (Fruits not observed)
Common Names: Corn Snapdragon, Lesser Snapdragon, Weasel’s Snout
