Rubiaceae

Cephalanthus L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 95 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is India to S. China and Taiwan, America.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs, trees or sometimes woody climbers, the growth axes differentiated, the orthotropic axis with leaves mostly in whorls of 3–4, the plagiotropic axis with leaves in pairs; terminal vegetative buds conical.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate; domatia present; stipules with or without a black gland at the apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences terminal and axillary on both sorts of axes, consisting of many flowers in condensed heads, not surrounded by reduced leaves or bracts; receptacle pubescent; the flowers quite separate and with interfloral bracteoles.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tubes free from each other; limb-tube well developed; lobes 4–5, the fifth usually smallest.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla hypocrateriform to narrowly funnel-shaped; lobes 4–5, erect or spreading, imbricate in bud.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens inserted in the throat, included.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 2-locular; ovules solitary in each loculus, pendulous, attached at apex of septum, anatropous; style clearly exceeding corolla tube, with receptive area in distal part.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Infructescence a spherical head of small separate indehiscent fruits, each fruit drupe-like, containing two 1-seeded pyrenes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds oblong with a large or small apical aril or aril absent; testa membranous, sometimes shortly winged above; radicle superior.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • 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.

  • 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