Scyphiphora C.F.Gaertn.

First published in Suppl. Carp.: 91 (1806)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Coasts of Madagascar, E. India to W. Pacific.

Descriptions

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

Distribution
A monotypic genus, Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea C.F.Gaertn., found in tropical coastal areas from Madagascar to India and China and through South-East Asia to the western Pacific.
Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or trees to c. 8 m; stilt roots sometimes present; young parts sometimes resinous
Morphology General
Raphides probably lacking. Stipules rounded or truncate at apex, united at base, persistent
Morphology Leaves
Leaves thick and leathery, often clustered at branch apex, petioles articulate. Inflorescences axillary, paired at nodes, in cymose clusters
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers bisexual, 4–5-merous in all parts, sessile or pedicellate; calyx rim-like or with teeth; corolla white or pink, convolute in bud, lobes often reflexed at anthesis; stamens adnate to corolla below throat, exserted or partially included; ovary bilocular, 2 ovules per locule, placentation axile, with both an erect and a pendulous ovule in each locule, style exserted, stigma bilobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit ellipsoid-oblong, ridged or winged, indehiscent, fleshy to corky, calyx persistent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 4.
Ecology
This is a distinctive species of Rubiaceae, found growing in mangrove type habitats in the muddy foreshore and in swamps at low elevations.
Recognition
It can be distinguished by the habitat and a combination of the thick leathery leaves, paired axillary inflorescences and bilobed stigmas.
[TONG]

Sources

  • 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.
  • Interactive Key to Seed Plants of Malesia and Indo-China

    • The Malesian Key Group (2010) Interactive Key to Seed Plants of Malesia and Indo-China (Version 2.0, 28 Jul 2010) The Nationaal Herbarium Nederland Leiden and The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
  • 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
  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0