Santalaceae

Osyris L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 1022 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Canary Islands, Medit. to S. China and Indo-China, Eritrea to S. Africa.

Descriptions

Santalaceae, P.M. Polhill, B.A., Ph.D., F.L.S.. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2005

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or small evergreen trees; branchlets ribbed by raised vascular strands running out into midribs of leaves, ultimate twiglets flattened
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, opposite or alternate, penninerved, coriaceous, both surfaces minutely and closely white-dotted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphrodite and male (plants androdioecious), axillary and terminal, either solitary or in 2–3-flowered dichasia or umbellate clusters, sometimes panicled; bracts and bracteoles very small, free from peduncle, soon deciduous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth tube very short; lobes usually 3 or 4, valvate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens normally 3 or 4, inserted at base of perianth lobes; anthers attached to lobes by tuft of hairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk fleshy, lobed, lining inside of perianth tube
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary with 3–4 ovules pendent from apex of erect free-central placenta; stigma 3–4-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit indehiscent, ovoid, epicarp fleshy.
[FTEA]

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 9, Part 3. Polygonaceae-Myriaceae. Pope GV, Polhill RM, Martins ES. 2006.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts and bracteoles very small, free from peduncle, soon deciduous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth tube very short; lobes usually 3 or 4, valvate Perianth tube very short; lobes usually 3 or 4, valvate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens normally 3 or 4, inserted at base of lobes; anthers attached to lobes by tuft of hairs Stamens normally 3 or 4, inserted at base of lobes; anthers attached to lobes by tuft of hairs.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk fleshy, lobed, lining inside of perianth tube Disk fleshy, lobed, lining inside of perianth tube.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary with 3–4 ovules pendant from apex of erect free-central placenta; stigma 3- or 4-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit indehiscent, ovoid, epicarp fleshy. Fruit indehiscent, ovoid, epicarp fleshy.
Distribution
A genus of 4 species, occurring in Africa and through southern Europe to SE Asia.
Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or small trees; branchlets ribbed by raised vascular strands running out into midribs of leaves, ultimate twiglets flattened. Shrubs or small trees; branchlets ribbed by raised vascular strands running out into midribs of leaves, ultimate twiglets flattened
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, opposite or alternate, penninerved, coriaceous, both surfaces minutely and closely white-dotted. Leaves petiolate, opposite or alternate, penninerved, coriaceous, both surfaces minutely and closely white-dotted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphrodite and male (plants androdioecious), axillary and terminal, either solitary or in 2–3-flowered dichasia or umbellate clusters, sometimes panicled. Flowers hermaphrodite and male (plants androdioecious), axillary and terminal, either solitary or in 2–3-flowered dichasia or umbellate clusters, sometimes panicled
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracteoles
Bracts and bracteoles very small, free from peduncle, soon deciduous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary with 3–4 ovules pendant from apex of erect free-central placenta; stigma 3- or 4-lobed.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

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

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • 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