Blastania Kotschy & Peyr.

Cucurbitaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Small scandent herbs with slender stems.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, petiolate.

Morphology General Tendrils

Tendrils simple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Probracts stipuloid, suborbicular, fimbriate-ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle-tube shortly campanulate, lobes small, dentiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla-lobes 5, ovate-lingulate, spreading, united at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3, 2 double 2-thecous, 1 single 1-thecous; filaments inserted on lower part of receptacle-tube; anthers free, exserted; thecae short, arcuate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers solitary, co-axillary with male; ovary subglobose, smooth; ovules few, horizontal; perianth similar to that of male flower; disk absent; stigma usually 2-lobed. Male flowers in short pedunculate racemes. Flowers very small, yellowish, monoecious.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit baccate, smooth, subreniform or subglobose, red.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds usually 2, rather large, ovate in outline, piano- or concavo-convex, smooth, whitish, sometimes bordered.

Cucurbitaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1967

Morphology General Habit

Small climbers or trailers; stems slender, herbaceous, annual

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, palmately lobed, petiolate; a ciliate suborbicular stipuliform bract present at the petiole-base

Morphology General Tendrils

Tendrils simple

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers very small, yellow, monoecious Male flowers in short slender-pedunculate racemes; receptacle-tube shortly obconic or campanulate; lobes small, dentiform; petals small, ovate-lingulate, spreading, united at the base; stamens 3, 2 double 2-thecous, 1 single 1-thecous; filaments inserted on lower part of tube, rather long; anthers free, exserted; thecae short, arcuate; disk absent Female flower shortly stalked, solitary, often coaxillary with a ♂ raceme; ovary subglobose, smooth; ovules few, horizontal; perianth as in ♂ flower; disk absent; stigma 2(–3)-lobed

sex Male

Male flowers in short slender-pedunculate racemes; receptacle-tube shortly obconic or campanulate; lobes small, dentiform; petals small, ovate-lingulate, spreading, united at the base; stamens 3, 2 double 2-thecous, 1 single 1-thecous; filaments inserted on lower part of tube, rather long; anthers free, exserted; thecae short, arcuate; disk absent

sex Female

Female flower shortly stalked, solitary, often coaxillary with a ♂ raceme; ovary subglobose, smooth; ovules few, horizontal; perianth as in ♂ flower; disk absent; stigma 2(–3)-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a small fleshy berry, subreniform or globose, red

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (1–)2(–3), comparatively large, ovoid in outline, plano- or concavo-convex, sometimes bordered; testa smooth, whitish

Figures

Fig. 14.