Hymenodictyon Wall.

Rubiaceae, D.M.Bridson & B.Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 5:3. 2003

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla funnel-shaped or narrowly campanulate, the tube and throat glabrous within; lobes 4–5, valvate, short, erect.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 5, inserted below the throat, included in the tube; filaments short; anthers basifixed, 2-thecous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 2-locular; ovules numerous in each loculus, imbricate on cylindrical ascending placentas attached to the septum; style slender, long exserted; pollen presenter fusiform or ellipsoid, obscurely 2-lobed, receptive area restricted to distal part.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits capsular, lenticellate, oblong or subcylindric, 2-locular, the valves sulcate, dehiscing loculicidally into 2 valves, many-seeded, the placentas thin, finally free.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ascending, imbricate; testa membranous, broadly winged, ± lacerate, the wing elongated, bifid at the hilar end; embryo small, the cotyledons oblong or round; radicle clavate or terete.

Morphology General Habit

Trees, shrubs or sometimes epiphytic, rarely lianes.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, petiolate, deciduous, often with domatia in the nerve axils.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules entire or glandular-serrate, deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal, mostly elongate, spicate or capitate often with a pair of conspicuous petiolate leafy reticulate bracts at the base; spikes composed of numerous 1–3-flowered cymes in the axils of minute or moderate sized secondary bracts.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tube ovoid or subglobose, the limb divided into 5(6) elongate-subulate deciduous lobes.