Paraisometrum

Full name and orig. publicationParaisometrum W.T.Wang in Weitzman & al., Novon 7: 431 (1998, "1997"). 

Etymology: Composed of the Greek praefix μαρα-, para- = beside, alongside, close by, and the generic name Isometrum.

Synonyms: -

Infrafamilial position: Didymocarpoid Gesneriaceae - "Advanced Asiatic and Malesian genera" (Weber 2004).

Description: Perennial rhizomatous rosette herbs. Leaves many, blade pubescent to woolly, base cuneate to broadly cuneate. Inflorescences lax, axillary, few-flowered cymes; bracteoles 2, opposite. Calyx actinomorphic, 5-sect from base; segments equal. Corolla purple, zygomorphic, inside minutely puberulent on lobes; tube funnelform-tubular, not swollen, longer than limb, 3-5 mm in diam.; limb 2-lipped; adaxial lip 4-lobed; over 2 x longer than abaxial lip; abaxial lip undivided, apex rounded to acute. Stamens 4, adnate to corolla tube above middle, included; anthers basifixed, coherent in pairs by adaxial surfaces, thecae parallel, not confluent, dehiscing longitudinally; connective not projecting; staminode 1, adnate to adaxial side of corolla tube. Nectary ringlike. Ovary linear, placentae 2, parietal, projecting inward, 2-cleft. Stigma 1, terminal, depressed capitate, undivided. Fruit and seeds unknown. 

Chromosome number: Unknown.

Type and only species: Paraisometrum mileense W. T. Wang 

Species names (incl. publication and synonyms): See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005: World checklist of Gesneriaceae: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Checklist.

Distribution: Endemic to S China (SE Yunnan).

Ecology: No details known. 

Selected references: Wang et al. in Wu & Raven (eds.), Fl. China 18: 268 (1998) (Chinese sp.).

Bibliography: See Skog, L.E. & J.K. Boggan. 2005. Bibliography of the Gesneriaceae. 2^nd edition: http://persoon.si.edu/Gesneriaceae/Bibliography.

Illustrations:

Paraisometrum mileense W.T.Wang, type and only species Weitzmann et al., Novon 7, fig. 2 (1997)

last modified: 2007-07-13