Alchornea Sw.

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

Morphology General Habit

Dioecious or more rarely monoecious shrubs or trees with a stellate or simple indumentum

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, usually petiolate, stipulate, elobate, crenate or serrate, often remotely so, sometimes glandular beneath at the base, sometimes stipellate, palmi- or penninerved

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences usually unisexual, terminal, axillary or from the old wood, solitary or fascicled, spicate or paniculate, usually lax-flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Male flowers small, in bracteate clusters along the simple or branched rhachis Female flowers usually 1 per bract Male flowers: calyx closed in bud, globose, later valvately 2–5 partite; petals and disc 0; stamens usually 8, rarely fewer, filaments free or slightly connate at the base, anthers oblong, dorsifixed, introrse, the thecae parallel or slightly diverging and partially free at the base, longitudinally dehiscent; pistillode 0, or, if present, then columnar, and 2–3-lobed Female flowers: sepals 3–6, usually 4, imbricate; petals and disc 0; ovary (1–)2–3(–4)-locular, with 1 ovule per locule; styles free or slightly connate at the base, usually simple, linear, rarely bifid at the apex

sex Male

Male flowers small, in bracteate clusters along the simple or branched rhachis Male flowers: calyx closed in bud, globose, later valvately 2–5 partite; petals and disc 0; stamens usually 8, rarely fewer, filaments free or slightly connate at the base, anthers oblong, dorsifixed, introrse, the thecae parallel or slightly diverging and partially free at the base, longitudinally dehiscent; pistillode 0, or, if present, then columnar, and 2–3-lobed

sex Female

Female flowers usually 1 per bract Female flowers: sepals 3–6, usually 4, imbricate; petals and disc 0; ovary (1–)2–3(–4)-locular, with 1 ovule per locule; styles free or slightly connate at the base, usually simple, linear, rarely bifid at the apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 2–3(–4)-lobed or subglobose, smooth or warty, dehiscing septicidally into bivalved cocci leaving a persistent columella; endocarp crustaceous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds subglobose, ecarunculate or ± so, testa crustaceous, albumen fleshy; cotyledons broad, flat.

Euphorbiaceae, A. Radcliffe-Smith. Flora Zambesiaca 9:4. 1996

Morphology General Habit

Dioecious or sometimes monoecious trees or shrubs, with a simple indumentum (or stellate, outside Flora Zambesiaca area) .Leaves alternate, petiolate, stipulate, simple, crenate or serrate, sometimes remotely so, sometimes glandular beneath, stipellate or exstipellate, penni- or palminerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences usually unisexual, terminal or axillary, solitary or fascicled, spicate or paniculate, usually lax.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Female flowers: sepals (3)4(6), imbricate; petals and disk absent; ovary (1)2–3(4)-celled, with 1 ovule per cell; styles free or ± free, usually simple, linear. Male flowers small, in bracteate clusters. Female flowers usually solitary per bract. Male flowers: calyx closed in bud, ± globose, later valvately 2–5-partite; petals and disk absent; stamens 8, rarely fewer, filaments free or ± connate at the base, anthers oblong, dorsifixed, introrse, the thecae ± parallel, longitudinally dehiscent; pistillode columnar, 2–3-lobed, or absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits 2–4-lobed or subglobose, smooth or warty, septicidally dehiscent into bivalved cocci; endocarp crustaceous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds subglobose, ecarunculate; testa crustaceous; albumen fleshy; cotyledons broad, flat.