Tabernaemontana Plum. ex L.

Apocynaceae, A. J. M. Leeuwenberg & F. K. Kupicha et al. Flora Zambesiaca 7:2. 1985

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs or trees, repeatedly dichotomously branched and with 2 inflorescences in the forks when flowering (rarely one of the inflorescences not developing).

Morphology Stem

Bark with abundant white latex. Branchlets terete or elliptic on section in African species, often sulcate and angular when dried.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, those of a pair equal or unequal, petiolate (at least in species of the F.Z. area); petioles of a pair connate into a conspicuous ocrea, with colleters in the axils; lamina broadly to narrowly elliptic.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence distinctly pedunculate, corymbose, lax to congested.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts de­ciduous, but at least in species of the F.Z. area still present at anthesis.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers actinomorphic, except for the subequal sepals, fragrant.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals green or of different colour, almost free.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, pale yellow or mauve (Madagascan spp.), with an often green or greenish tube and a pale yellow throat, thick and carnose or thin; tube twisted, in species of the F.Z. area at least twice as long as the calyx; lobes in bud overlapping to the left and folded inwards, twisted, usually obliquely elliptic, usually curved to the right, spreading and often recurved later.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens included or less often exserted; filaments reduced to ridges or nearly so; anthers narrowly triangular, acuminate at the sterile apex, sagittate at the base, introrse, dehiscent throughout by a longitudinal slit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary composed of two carpels, these barely to distinctly connate at the base and connected at the apex by the style; style often split at the base; disk absent (at least in species of the F.Z. area); clavuncula not coherent with the anthers and therefore the pistil still complete immediately after the corolla is shed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit of two free or basally united subglobose, subellipsoid or pod-like carnose carpels (sometimes one remaining smaller or not developing); carpels opening along an adaxial line of dehiscence or not.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds several or many, enveloped by a thin variously coloured pulpy aril, nearly obliquely ellipsoid, with a deep groove to halfway its width at the hilar side; endosperm ruminate.

Apocynaceae, E.A. Omino. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2002

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs or trees repeatedly dichotomously branched

Morphology General Exudate

Latex present in most parts

Morphology General Bark

Bark smooth or rough, usually with large lenticels

Morphology Branches

Branches with large lenticels and conspicuous leaf scars; branchlets terete, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite; petiole glabrous, those of a pair usually connate into a conspicuous ochrea, these frequently widened into intrapetolar stipules, with colleters in axils; blade glabrous on both sides (occasionally pubescent beneath in T. elegans), entire.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal or in forks, corymbose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts deciduous, with colleters in axils, leaving large scars

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 5-merous, actinomorphic, sweet-scented

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals imbricate in bud

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla tube thin or thick and fleshy, twisted or not; lobes overlapping to the left, twisted, folded inwards, obliquely ellipsoid and falcate, curved to the right, often auriculate at the left side at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens included; filaments short or reduced to ridges; anthers sessile, narrowly triangular, acuminate at the sterile apex, sagittate at the base, with connectives adnate to the corolla

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary superior, of two carpels, barely to distinctly connate at the base, connate at the apex by the style; pistil head not coherent with anthers, subglobose or cylindrical with 5 suborbicular or elliptic lobes at the apex and an entire undulate or lobed ring at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit of two separate or rarely basally united mericarps, subglobose to pod-like, baccate, dehiscent or not; aril pulpy, white, orange or red

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown or black, with a deep groove on the hilar sides; endosperm copious, starchy, white, ruminate; embryo spatulate