Ximenia Plum. ex L.

Olacaceae, G. Ll. Lucas. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs; branches usually armed with spines

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, entire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers borne in axillary fascicles or pedunculate cymes, sometimes solitary, 4–5-merous, bisexual

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx small, 4–5-lobed, not accrescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4–5, valvate, linear-oblong, densely pilose on the inner surface, glabrous to sparsely pubescent on the outer surface

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8 (rarely 10), free, 4(–5) opposite the petals and 4(–5) alternating with them; filaments filiform; anthers linear-oblong, erect, longitudinally dehiscent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary superior, 3(–4)-partite almost to the apex of the ovary; ovules 3–4, pendulous, anatropus; style short; stigma capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a drupe, ovoid to globose.

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution

A genus of about 10 species from the old world and new world tropics and subtropics. One species in New Guinea, Ximenia americana L., a common, pantropical species.

Morphology General Habit

Trees and shrubs to 10 m tall, sometimes scramblers, root parasites, usually deciducous, spines usually present, on stems and at end of brachyblasts

Morphology Leaves

Leaves spirally arranged, or fascicled on brachyblasts, venation pinnate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary or on brachyblasts, fasciculate or umbelliform, few-flowered, bracts inconspicuous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers usually bisexual, 4-merous; calyx cupular, minutely dentate, persistent but not expanding in fruit; petals free, linear-oblong, recurving at anthesis, inner surface hairy; stamens 8(–10), filaments free, filiform, anthers oblong to obovate; disk absent; ovary superior, (3–)4-locular, placentation basal, 1 ovule per locule, style slender, equalling ovary length, stigma capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit drupaceous, ovoid to ellipsoid (in New Guinea), to c. 3 cm in diameter, pericarp succulent, endocarp hard.

Recognition

In New Guinea, Ximenia occurs in Barringtonia-dominated coastal forest, savannahs and open areas on poor sandy soils. The genus can be recognised by the presence of spines and brachyblasts, the umbelliform or fasciculate inflorescences, the bisexual, 4-merous flowers and the fairly featureless, ellipsoid, drupaceous fruit which is usually orange when ripe.

M. Thulin. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1–4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Distribution

Genus of eight species, pantropical.

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs; branches generally armed with spines

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, entire

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers arranged in axillary clusters or pedunculate cymes, sometimes solitary, 4–5-merous, bisexual-Calyx small, 4–5-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4–5, valvate, linear-oblong, densely pilose on inner surface, glabrous or sparsely pubescent on the outer

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8(–10), free, 4 opposite the petals and 4 alternating with them; filaments filiform; anthers linear-oblong, erect, longitudinally dehiscent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary superior, 3(–4)-partite almost to the apex; ovules 3–4, anatropous; style short, stigma capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a drupe, ovoid to globose.

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs or trees, often armed with spines, these formed from abortive branchlets; leaves often clustered on short spurs. Flowers in short axillary cymes or sometimes solitary; calyx 4–5-toothed or -lobed; petals 4 or 5, valvate, densely white-bearded within

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens free, twice as many as the petals; anthers linear

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary partly 3-celled; style simple, with subcapitate stigma; ovules 3, linear

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a drupe with abundant pulp and a hard stone.

Distribution

A genus of at least 9 species, 5 of them in Mexico, 1 confined to Hispaniola, 1 in South Africa, 1 in certain Pacific islands, and another of pantropical distribution.