Clusiaceae

Symphonia L.f.

First published in Suppl. Pl.: 49 (1782)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Mexico to Tropical America, Tropical Africa, Madagascar.

Descriptions

Guttiferae, N. K. B. Robson. Flora Zambesiaca 1:2. 1961

Morphology General Habit
Medium or large trees, rarely shrubs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, petiolate, entire, ± coriaceous, glabrous, with ± prominent venation, opaque or rarely with translucent glands.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a terminal one- to many-flowered, corymbose or umbellate cyme.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers pedicellate, bisexual.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 5.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, incurved at anthesis.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
Androecium of 5 fascicles of stamens united to form a tube round the ovary and 5 united fasciclodes forming an annulus outside the stamen tube.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 5-locular; loculi (1) few — ?-ovulate; styles 5, united below, spreading above; stigmas minute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a 1–3-seeded berry with tough epidermis.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds large, with a fibrous aril.
[FZ]

Guttiferae, P. Bamps, N. Robson & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Medium or large trees, rarely shrubs, with yellowish sap
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite or subopposite, with numerous parallel lateral nerves running into a submarginal nerve; secretory canals not very visible
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphrodite, in sessile cymes, umbels or corymbs at the apices of short lateral branches or rarely solitary
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 5, imbricate, persistent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, contorted, deciduous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disc cupuliform, ± 5-angled, persistent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens joined into a tube surrounding the ovary, divided at the summit into groups of 2–6 anthers, deciduous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 5-locular, with 1–12 ovules in each locule; styles 5, joined at the base, then spreading-divergent at the apex, persistent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Berries with 1(–3) seeds
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds arillate with a thick entire embryo.
[FTEA]

Common Names

unknown
hazinina (Malagasy)

Sources

  • EBC Common Names

    • Common Names from Kew's Economic Botany Collection https://www.kew.org/science/collections-and-resources/collections/economic-botany-collection

  • 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

    • '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 2025. 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 2025. 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