Chrysobalanaceae

Chrysobalanus L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 513 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & Subtropical America, Tropical Africa.

Descriptions

Chrysobalanaceae, F. White. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Small or medium-sized trees or shrubs.
Morphology Leaves
Lower leaf-surface glabrous or with a few stiff appressed hairs.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence few-flowered, a short raceme of cymules or cymose throughout, or a false raceme or a subsessile fascicle.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts small, eglandular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers actinomorphic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle
Receptacle-tube cupuliform, interior and exterior puberulous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 5, acute, subequal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, longer than the sepals.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 12–26, forming a complete circle; filaments hairy, c. twice as long as sepals, appearing slightly united at the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary monocarpellary, 1-locular, inserted at base of receptacle, covered with a dense mass of hairs.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Styles puberulous; stigma slightly expanded, shallowly 3-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Drupe small, glabrous; endocarp thin, hard, interior glabrous, exterior smooth, with 4–8 prominent longitudinal ridges corresponding to the lines of fracture that allow the seedling to escape.
[FZ]

Rosaceae, R. A. Graham. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1960

Morphology General Habit
Trees or shrubs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple, petiolate, entire; blade with two small basal glands
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers with a shallow receptacle
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-lobes and petals 5
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 15 or more, all or partly fertile, the filaments usually partly united towards the base, inserted all round the rim of the receptacle
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Carpels
Carpel single, sessile, inserted at the base of the receptacle
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit drupaceous, with a large stone.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0