PENTAPETES

Pentapetes L., Sp. Pl. 2: 698. 1753; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 12: 326. 2007

Annual herbs. Leaves alternate, simple. Flowers axillary, solitary or paired, actinomorphic, bisexual, pentamerous, hypogynous. Epicalyx lobes 3, acute or acuminate, caducous. Calyx 5-lobed, divided almost to base. Petals 5, red. Stamens 15, in 5 groups of 3 alternating with staminodes, connate at base into tube; staminodes 5, nearly as long as petals; anthers bithecous, extrorse. Ovary sessile, 5-locular, many ovules per loculus; style elongated. Capsule ovoid-globose, dehiscent into 5 valves (also called mericarps by some). Seeds 8-12 per loculus, in 2 rows, elliptic with endosperm; cotyledons 2- divided, plicate.

One species

Pentapetes phoenicea

Pentapetes phoenicea L., Sp. Pl. 698. 1753; Masters in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 1: 371. 1875; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 12: 326. 2007; eFlora of India in BSI vol. 3.

Annual herbs, up to 2 m high, much branched, with a longitudinal groove, sparsely stellate hairy. Leaves alternate, stipulate, petiolate; stipules linear-subulate, equalling the petioles; petioles 1-3.5(-5.5) cm long, hairy; leaf blade 7-12(-19) cm long and up to 3.5 cm broad, deltoid, hastate, linear to linear-lanceolate, base broadly cuneate, rounded or truncate, margin crenate-serrate, apex acuminate, glabrous above, stellate hairy on the veins beneath. Flowers 1-3, usually 2, in axillary fascicles, actinomorphic, bisexual, pentamerous, hypogynous, 3-4 cm across, scarlet red; flowers opening at noon and closing at dawn. Pedicels 0.6-1.5 cm long, curved, stellate hairy. Epicalyx lobes (bracteoles) 3, entire, acuminate, linear-lanceolate with ciliate margin. Calyx 1.5- 1.8 cm long; sepals 5, connate at base, lobes +/- 1 cm long, lanceolate, apex acuminate, stellate hairy mixed with simple hispid hairs abaxially (outside). Corolla ca. 3-4 cm across, petals 5, free, ca. 2 cm x 2.2 cm, obovate, truncate, twisted. Stamens 15, in 5 groups of 3 alternating with staminodes; monoadelphous, stamens fused at base to form short staminal tube, ca. 5 mm long. Staminodes 5, as long as petals, ca. 2 cm long, linear-spatulate, glandular on inner surface, scarlet red; anthers bithecous, ca. 3 mm long, extrorse. Carpels 5, syncarpous; ovary 3 mm long, densely villous, 5-locular, many ovules (8-12) per loculus, ovules pink coloured; style 1-1.5 cm long, filiform, often twisted; stigma clavate. Capsules 1-1.5 cm x 0.6-1 cm, subglobose or oblong, 5-valved, densely stellate hairy and hispid, equalling or shorter than persistent calyx. Seeds 8-12 in 2 series, ca. 2 mm long, obovate, dotted.

Flowering and Fruiting: August to November
Common Names: Midday Flower, Scarlet Mallow, Copper cups, Florimpia, Noon Flower, Scarlet Pentapetes, Scarlet Phoenician; Dupahariya (Hindi)