Drypetes Vahl

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

Morphology General Habit

Dioecious or more rarely monoecious trees or shrubs; indumentum of simple hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, simple, entire or toothed, usually asymmetrical at the base, often leathery; stipules present

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Flowers axillary, solitary or in clusters, sometimes directly from the trunk or old branches

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers: sepals as in male flowers; disc usually annular; ovary 1–4-celled, with 2 ovules per cell; styles usually short or absent Male flowers: sepals 4–5, imbricate, broad, concave; petals absent; stamens 3–12(–50), free; disc central; pistillode minute or absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a drupe, somewhat fleshy at first, 1–4-celled

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds solitary, without caruncle.

Distribution

Genus of over 200 species throughout the tropics.

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

Distribution

A large genus of c. 200 species, with at least six species in New Guinea and would benefit from a critical revision.

Morphology General Habit

Small to large trees to 35 m

Morphology General Indumentum

Indumentum of simple hairs

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules present, various, sometimes pectinate, caducous. Leaves alternate, elliptic to oblong, margins entire to dentate, usually asymmetric at the base, drying grey-green; petiole short

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences fasciculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers unisexual (plants dioecious) 4–5-merous, sometimes fragrant; tepals suborbicular, imbricate Staminate flowers: 3–50 free stamens; disk present in staminate flowers, central, flat, disciform with variously lobed or sinuate margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Pistillate flowers: ovary superior, 1–4-celled with 2 ovules in each cell; styles very short, stigmas relatively large and flap- or fan-shaped, rarely bifid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a drupe, globose to flattened-ellipsoid, endocarp sometimes sculptured

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed usually 1.

Ecology

Found in a variety of habitats including primary rain forest, back of mangrove, swamp, and savannah, usually lowland but known from montane habitats up to c. 900 m.

Recognition

The genus can be recognised by the stipulate, alternate leaves (sometimes arranged distichously) with unequal leaf bases, usually drying a dull grey-green, the unisexual flowers borne in fascicles which, when staminate, usually have numerous stamens surrounding a flat central disk, and the drupaceous fruit which is usually single seeded.

Euphorbiaceae, A. R.-Smith. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1987

Morphology General Habit

Dioecious, polygamo-dioecious or more rarely monoecious trees or shrubs with a simple indumentum

Morphology General Buds

Buds sometimes perulate

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, petiolate, stipulate, simple, entire or toothed, commonly asymmetrical at the base, often coriaceous, penninerved

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers fasciculate, axillary, or cauliflorous on the older branches or trunk, usually pedicellate Female flowers: sepals as in ♂; disc hypogynous, annular, cupular or rarely 0; ovary 1–4-locular, with 2 ovules per locule; styles usually short or 0; stigmas thick, flattened, sometimes subpeltate, bifid, reniform or discoid Male flowers: buds usually globose; sepals 4–5, imbricate, broad, concave, often unequal; petals 0; stamens 3–12(–50); filaments free, anthers erect, commonly introrse, thecae parallel, longitudinally dehiscent; disc central, flat, cupular, ± entire, lobed, laciniate or plicate, sometimes enfolding the filaments; pistillode 0 or minute

sex Male

Male flowers: buds usually globose; sepals 4–5, imbricate, broad, concave, often unequal; petals 0; stamens 3–12(–50); filaments free, anthers erect, commonly introrse, thecae parallel, longitudinally dehiscent; disc central, flat, cupular, ± entire, lobed, laciniate or plicate, sometimes enfolding the filaments; pistillode 0 or minute

sex Female

Female flowers: sepals as in ♂; disc hypogynous, annular, cupular or rarely 0; ovary 1–4-locular, with 2 ovules per locule; styles usually short or 0; stigmas thick, flattened, sometimes subpeltate, bifid, reniform or discoid

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a globose, ovoid or ellipsoid drupe; pericarp somewhat fleshy, becoming indurated on drying; endocarp coriaceous, papery or bony, 1–4-locular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds solitary by abortion, ecarunculate, albumen fleshy, embryo straight, cotyledons broad, flat.

Euphorbiaceae, A. R.-Smith. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1987

Morphology General Habit

Dioecious trees with a simple indumentum

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, petiolate, stipulate, simple, entire or obscurely toothed, slightly asymmetrical at the base, coriaceous, penninerved

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers fasciculate on the branches, pedicellate Male flowers: sepals 5, imbricate, triangular-lanceolate, flat, unequal; petals 0; stamens 3(–5), filaments free, anthers erect, dorsifixed, introrse, longitudinally dehiscent; disc central, concave, undulate, fleshy, not enfolding the filaments; pistillode 0 Female flowers: sepals 5, open in bud, oblong-lanceolate, subgeniculate, unequal, fleshy, persistent; disc hypogynous, annular, thickened; ovary 1-locular, with 2 ovules per locule; style columnar, short, thick; stigma thick, subpeltate, capitate, slightly oblique or quite symmetrical, with a central concavity

sex Male

Male flowers: sepals 5, imbricate, triangular-lanceolate, flat, unequal; petals 0; stamens 3(–5), filaments free, anthers erect, dorsifixed, introrse, longitudinally dehiscent; disc central, concave, undulate, fleshy, not enfolding the filaments; pistillode 0

sex Female

Female flowers: sepals 5, open in bud, oblong-lanceolate, subgeniculate, unequal, fleshy, persistent; disc hypogynous, annular, thickened; ovary 1-locular, with 2 ovules per locule; style columnar, short, thick; stigma thick, subpeltate, capitate, slightly oblique or quite symmetrical, with a central concavity

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit an ovoid or ellipsoid drupe

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds solitary by abortion.