Ochna L.

Ochnaceae, B. Verdcourt, B.Sc., Ph.D.. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs or pyrophytic shrublets, usually glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate, usually with serrate or ciliate margins, less often entire; stipules entire to deeply bifid or fimbriate, usually not striate nor persistent Young leaves often reddish

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences paniculate, umbellate or racemiform, sometimes reduced to a solitary flower, terminal or terminating short axillary shoots; usually scented; inflorescence buds usually very noticeable, fusiform, ovoid or subglobose with numerous distichous imbricate bracts leaving a series of annular scars which are usually very obvious; pedicels articulated at or above the base; torus usually thickening and becoming red in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals (3–)5, quincuncially imbricate, becoming red and coriaceous in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5(–12), absent in one species, mostly yellow, usually unguiculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens (14–)20–numerous in 2 or more whorls, free; filaments slender, longer or shorter than the anthers, persistent; anthers yellow, dehiscing by longitudinal slits or terminal pores, usually soon deciduous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels (3–)5–15, free, 1-ovulate; styles slender, gynobasic, united or sometimes free at apex with somewhat enlarged stigmas

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit with 1–several free black drupelets with fleshy mesocarp

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds straight, ± curved or reniform, without endosperm; embryo straight or curved.

Ochnaceae, N. K. B. Robson. Flora Zambesiaca 2:1. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs or shrublets, usually completely glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate; lamina with margin serrate to ciliate or rarely entire; stipules entire or with ciliate or fimbriate margins or ± deeply bifid, not striate, free, deciduous or caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence paniculate to racemose or umbellate or reduced to a single flower, terminal or terminating short axillary shoots; bracts scale-like, caducous; pedicels articulated at or above the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals (4) 5, quincuncial in bud, green or yellow in flower, persistent, enlarging and becoming varying shades of red and coriaceous in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5 (rarely up to 12), yellow or rarely orange or white, often unguiculate, deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens (14) 20-?, free; anthers yellow, dehiscing by longitudinal slits or terminal pores, deciduous; filaments ± slender, longer or shorter than the anthers, persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels

Carpels (3) 5–15, apparently free at the base, 1 -ovulate; styles slender, gynobasic, united except sometimes towards the apex; stigmas terminal, enlarged.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 1 to several free black 1-seeded drupelets with fleshy mesocarp, inserted on the enlarged red receptacle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds straight or ± curved or reniform, cylindric or somewhat flattened but not angular, without endosperm or an internal projection of the endocarp; embryo straight or curved, incumbent or accumbent, isocotylous or heterocotylous.