Monographs Details:
Authority:
Sleumer, Hermann O. 1980. Flacourtiaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 22: 1-499. (Published by NYBG Press)
Sleumer, Hermann O. 1980. Flacourtiaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 22: 1-499. (Published by NYBG Press)
Family:
Lacistemataceae
Lacistemataceae
Synonyms:
Nematospermum, Synzyganthera, Didymandra Willd.
Nematospermum, Synzyganthera, Didymandra Willd.
Description:
Genus Description - Shrubs or small trees. Leaves alternate, distichous, persistent, entire or glandular-denticulate or -serrate, penninerved, petiolate, subpersistently or caducously stipulate, the scars of the stipules sometimes encircling the young stem. Inflorescences 1 to numerous, clustered in the leaf-axils, each inflorescence consisting of numerous sessile flowers spirally arranged in catkin-like cylindrical or rarely subglobose sessile small spikes. Flowers [male and female], small, (sub)sessile; basal bract large, concave, persistent, enclosing generally the whole flower; bracteoles 2, small, ending in a minute pedicellate gland. Sepals 2-6, very rarely only 1, unequal, small, free, or 0. Petals 0. Disk fleshy in general, sometimes lobed, concave to cup-shaped. Stamen 1, inserted at base of the disk on the inner (abaxial) side; filament short; anthers introrse, opening lengthwise; connective thick, bifurcately separating the thecae. Ovary unilocular, free, (sub)sessile, almost completely surrounded at base by the disk, with (2-)3 parietal 1- or 2-ovuled placentas; ovules pendulous, anatropous; style distinct or very short (practically 0); stigmas 2 or generally 3, short, subulate, acutish, erect or more or less recurved. Fruit capsular, drupe-like (dark) red, finally splitting with 3 coriaceous or almost fleshy valves; seeds 1, rarely 2 or 3, white, arillate; testa crustaceous; endosperm fleshy, sparse; embryo straight; cotyledons foliaceous.
Genus Description - Shrubs or small trees. Leaves alternate, distichous, persistent, entire or glandular-denticulate or -serrate, penninerved, petiolate, subpersistently or caducously stipulate, the scars of the stipules sometimes encircling the young stem. Inflorescences 1 to numerous, clustered in the leaf-axils, each inflorescence consisting of numerous sessile flowers spirally arranged in catkin-like cylindrical or rarely subglobose sessile small spikes. Flowers [male and female], small, (sub)sessile; basal bract large, concave, persistent, enclosing generally the whole flower; bracteoles 2, small, ending in a minute pedicellate gland. Sepals 2-6, very rarely only 1, unequal, small, free, or 0. Petals 0. Disk fleshy in general, sometimes lobed, concave to cup-shaped. Stamen 1, inserted at base of the disk on the inner (abaxial) side; filament short; anthers introrse, opening lengthwise; connective thick, bifurcately separating the thecae. Ovary unilocular, free, (sub)sessile, almost completely surrounded at base by the disk, with (2-)3 parietal 1- or 2-ovuled placentas; ovules pendulous, anatropous; style distinct or very short (practically 0); stigmas 2 or generally 3, short, subulate, acutish, erect or more or less recurved. Fruit capsular, drupe-like (dark) red, finally splitting with 3 coriaceous or almost fleshy valves; seeds 1, rarely 2 or 3, white, arillate; testa crustaceous; endosperm fleshy, sparse; embryo straight; cotyledons foliaceous.
Discussion:
Due to the very small size of the flowers, their characters can be observed only with the use of a lens. The delimitation of several species is still arbitrary.
Due to the very small size of the flowers, their characters can be observed only with the use of a lens. The delimitation of several species is still arbitrary.
Distribution:
Mexico North America| Central America| Jamaica South America| South America|
Mexico North America| Central America| Jamaica South America| South America|