Pachypodium Lindl.

First published in Edwards's Bot. Reg. 16: t. 1321 (1830)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is S. Tropical & S. Africa, Madagascar.

Descriptions

Apocynaceae, A. J. M. Leeuwenberg & F. K. Kupicha et al. Flora Zambesiaca 7:2. 1985

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or small trees with thick succulent trunk and stems.
Morphology General Exudate
Latex present.
Morphology General Spines
Conspicuous ternate spines (the central one often very reduced or absent) present at each node.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate or spirally arranged.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Cymes terminal, sessile or pedunculate, few–many-flowered; flowers usually showy, pink, purple, yellow or partly white.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx lobes imbricate, free almost to the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla hypocrateriform to subcampanulate, the tube constricted near the base, tubular to campanulate above; lobes contorted, overlapping to the right.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens inserted above the constriction; anthers subsessile, conniving in a cone, the fertile thecae confined to the upper part of the anther below which a brush-like retinacle projects inwards from the connective, adhering to the clavuncle.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disc cupular, lobed or replaced by 5 scale-like processes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary of 2 free carpels each containing ∞ ovules on the ventral placenta; style slender, cylindric; clavuncle annular, style 2-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit of 2 follicles.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds ∞, ovate to oblong with an apical coma, endosperm scanty or absent.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

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

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 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 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0