Monsonia is a genus of plants in the family Geraniaceae. It is named after Lady Anne Monson, 1714–76, known for her botanical knowledge and plant collecting in the Cape.
Description
Monsonia consists of herbs or undershrubs often with simple stem from woody rootstock or deep tap root; leaves toothed or divided; flowers regular, petals 5, separate, tip broad, blunt or slightly notched, stamens in 5 groups with 3 stamens in each, one longer than others, ovary 5 lobed; fruit beaked.
Taxonomy
, the
World Checklist of Selected Plant Families accepts 27 species:
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Monsonia angustifolia E.Mey. ex A.Rich.
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Monsonia attenuata Harv.
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Monsonia biflora DC.
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Monsonia brevirostrata R.Knuth
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Monsonia burkeana Planch. ex Harv.
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Monsonia deserticola Dinter ex R.Knuth
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Monsonia drudeana Schinz
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Monsonia emarginata (L.f.) L'Hér.
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Monsonia galpinii Schltr. ex R.Knuth
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Monsonia glauca R.Knuth
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Monsonia grandifolia R.Knuth
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Monsonia heliotropioides (Cav.) Boiss.
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Monsonia ignea Schinz
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Monsonia ignorata Merxm. & A.Schreib.
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Monsonia lanuginosa R.Knuth
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Monsonia lavrani (Halda) C.C.Walker
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Monsonia longipes R.Knuth
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Monsonia luederitziana Focke & Schinz
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Monsonia natalensis R.Knuth
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Monsonia nivea (Decne.) Webb
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Monsonia parvifolia Schinz
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Monsonia praemorsa E.Mey. ex R.Knuth
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Monsonia senegalensis Guill. & Perr.
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Monsonia speciosa L.
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Monsonia transvaalensis R.Knuth
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Monsonia trilobata Kers
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Monsonia umbellata Harv.
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Distribution
Distributed in
Africa,
Western Asia and
East India, approximately 40 species, approximately 21 in
South Africa.
[A Field Guide to Wild Flowers Kwazulu-Natal and the Eastern Region by Elsa Pooley, Natal Flora Publications Trust, first edition 1998, ][wild Flowers of Niorthern South Africa by Gerrit Germishuizen, Fernwood Press 1997, ]
==Gallery==
