Gerrardanthus Harv. ex Benth. & Hook.f.

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

Morphology General Habit

Medium to rather large usually tuberous-rooted climbers, with the stems becoming somewhat woody when old

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple; blade ovate-cordate in outline, unlobed or palmately 3–5-lobed

Morphology General Tendrils

Tendrils apically bifid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers rather small, yellowish- or brownish-orange, dioecious, practically regular to strongly zygomorphic Female flowers in rather few-flowered panicles; ovary trigonous; ovules several, pendulous; perianth as in ♂ flowers; styles 3 Male flowers in few- to many-flowered panicles; receptacle-tube shallow, saucer-shaped; lobes small, dentiform; petals 5, usually somewhat unequal; stamens 5, all 1-thecous, in 2 pairs with 1 single, the single stamen usually reduced to a staminode; anthers of paired stamens adpressed to one another; connective apically appendaged; thecae short, straight

sex Male

Male flowers in few- to many-flowered panicles; receptacle-tube shallow, saucer-shaped; lobes small, dentiform; petals 5, usually somewhat unequal; stamens 5, all 1-thecous, in 2 pairs with 1 single, the single stamen usually reduced to a staminode; anthers of paired stamens adpressed to one another; connective apically appendaged; thecae short, straight

sex Female

Female flowers in rather few-flowered panicles; ovary trigonous; ovules several, pendulous; perianth as in ♂ flowers; styles 3

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a flask-shaped trigonous pendulous capsule, dry, brownish and opening by an apical triradiate slit when ripe

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds fusiform, with a large membranous wing.

Figures

Fig. 25, p. 146.

Distribution

Three species in tropical Africa, two in South Africa.