Monodora Dunal

Annonaceae, N. K. B. Robson. Flora Zambesiaca 1:1. 1960

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing or scrambling, glabrous or with simple hairs, with young shoots which frequently blacken and become brittle on drying.

Morphology General Buds

Buds ovoid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual, solitary or more rarely paired or in few-flowered cymes, terminal or extra-axillary or in the axils of fallen leaves, pedicellate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracteole solitary, usually amplexicaul, persistent, often foliaceous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 3, valvate, much shorter than the petals, free.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 6, in two unequal whorls, both valvate, all united at the base, often with undulate margins, the outer ones broad at the base, usually spreading or reflexed, the inner ones ± unguiculate, usually connivent at the apices or erect.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens ?, oblong or cuneiform to ± orbicular, with thecae extrorse, and connective-prolongation thickened; filaments absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels several, united to form a 1-locular globose or conic ovary with parietal placentation and numerous ovules; stigmas sessile, radiating.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a coriaceous or ligneous berry, globose to ellipsoid or obovoid, many-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds irregularly arranged, shining; aril absent.

Annonaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs, sometimes climbing or scrambling, glabrous or with simple hairs; young stems often glaucous, frequently drying black as do the young leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite, solitary or less often in 2–few-flowered cymes, terminal or extra-axillary or on shoots from which leaves have fallen, pedicellate, sometimes very conspicuously so; bracteole single, often large and leafy, usually amplexicaul, persistent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 3, valvate, free, shorter than the petals

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 6 in 2 whorls of 3, both valvate, unequal, all united at the base, very often with markedly crisped or undulate margins, the outer broad at the base, usually spreading or curved, inner ± clawed, often with the apices connivent at the tips until flower is very mature

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens numerous, oblong, cuneiform or almost globose; filaments absent; anther-cells extrorse; connective-prolongation thickened

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels several, united into a conical or globose 1-celled ovary with numerous ovules and parietal placentation; stigmas sessile, radiating

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit syncarpous, globose, ellipsoid or obovoid, with numerous seeds and leathery or woody pericarp

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds irregularly arranged, mostly shining brown; aril absent.