Brexia Noronha ex Thouars

Brexiaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

Mostly small trees or shrubs, glabrous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, entire or toothed, sometimes spinously; stipules minute, very deciduous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in umbel-like cymes, sometimes on the old wood

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals imbricate, not persistent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals coriaceous, spreading, imbricate and twisted to right or left in the bud

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk 5-lobed, the lobes alternating with the stamen-bases and each bearing 3–4(–6) stiff filaments (these lobes may be interpreted as clusters of staminodes)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4–5, slightly perigynous, inserted between the lobes of the disk; filaments slightly dilated near the base; anthers dehiscing inwards or sideways

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary elongate-ovoid, 5–10-angled, completely or imperfectly 5–7-locular, each locule with numerous ovules; style thick, simple, with 5–7-lobed stigma

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit at first woody, 5–7-locular or eventually becoming 1-locular, many-seeded, indehiscent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds with sparse albumen; embryo as long as the seed.