Vismia Vand.

• Authority

  Ewan, Joseph A. 1962. Synopsis of the South American species of Vismia (Guttiferae). Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 35: 293-377. pls. 1-5.

• Family

  Clusiaceae

• Scientific Name

  Vismia Vand.

• Type

  Type (i.e. Standard Species): Vismia cayennensis (Jacq.) Fers.

• Description

  Description - Trees or shrubs, often with orange sap; leaves opposite, the blades oblong or narrowly ovate to deltoid-ovate, acute to truncate or cuspidate, short- to long-petiolate, exstipulate, glabrous or stellulate-tomentoso, sometimes ferruginously so, punctate-glandular or without glands, sometimes lustrous on both surfaces; inflorescences terminal, simply paniculate or corymbose-paniculate or with supplementary lateral floriferous branchlets, or at times altogether lateral; sepals generally ovate, more or less prominently scarious margined; petals equaling or exceeding the sepals, often oblanceolate and densely comose within with matted hairs, the petal-blades linoate, vittate, or eglandular, glabrous on the back; stamens numerous, included, more or less united half their length into 3 or 5 staminal columns, the stamens tardily deciduous or persistent into fruiting stage, the anthers globose or ovoid; ovary 5-celled, each locule with numerous, seldom few ovules; styles 5, more or less free, at times prominently spreading in age; stigmas capitate or subcapitate; fruit a berry, the pericarp thick and fleshy or thin and withering, dark brown or blackish, sometimes vitiate with black scab-like glands, the calyx usually persistent on the fruits.