Sapindaceae

Blighia K.D.Koenig

First published in Ann. Bot. (König & Sims) 2: 571 (1806)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & S. Africa.

Descriptions

Sapindaceae, Davies & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1998

Morphology General Habit
Trees or large shrubs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves pinnate; leaflets in 1–5 pairs, tending to be opposite, entire
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary, thyrsoid, tending to be reduced to racemes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers regular, subtended singly or in small groups by minute bracts; sepals 5, almost free or joined up to halfway, opening in bud to reveal the immature anthers; petals 5, scale equal to or smaller than the limb and joined laterally to it to form a funnel
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk circular, glabrous or hairy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens (6–)8–10;filaments straight and very short in bud, elongating as the flower matures; anthers oblong, pilose, glabrescent, the base sagittate; staminodes similar but the filaments remain short
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 3(–4)-lobed, golden-hairy; style short, blunt, with 3(–4) furrows
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary rudiment in male flowers a minute white-pilose cushion
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a glabrous, 3(–4)-gonous, turbinate capsule, splitting into 3(–4) valves, with glabrous or velvety-pubescent inner surfaces
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds ovoid, glossy, with a yellow cup-shaped aril around the basal part.
[FTEA]

Sapindaceae, A. W. Exell. Flora Zambesiaca 2:2. 1966

Morphology General Habit
Large trees or shrubs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves paripinnate; leaflets 1–5-jugate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence an axillary usually racemoid thyrse (often partially racemose).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers spuriously polygamous, usually dioecious, actinomorphic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 5, connate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, pouchlike owing to the fusion of the margins of the scales.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 8–10.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 3-gonous, 3-locular; loculi 1-ovulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a 3-lobed, narrowly to moderately 3-winged, 3-locular loculicidal capsule.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 1 in each loculus, with a fleshy arillode surrounding the lower part.
[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

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 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 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0