Sapindaceae

Tristiropsis Radlk.

First published in T.A.Durand, Index Gen. Phan.: 76 (1887)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Malesia to NW. Pacific.

Descriptions

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution
A genus of three species with a distribution from Borneo and the Philippines eastwards to the Marianas. Two species in New Guinea, one widespread and also found in the Solomon Islands (Tristiropsis acutangula Radlk.), the other a narrow endemic known only from the type, collected in Madang Province (T. apetala Leenh.).
Morphology General Habit
Trees to 35 m tall
Morphology General Indumentum
Indumentum of simple hairs, branches and inflorescences tomentose
Morphology Leaves
Leaves bipinnate, up to 2 m long, pinnae alternate, each with several leaflets, leaflets alternate to opposite, chartaceous, base unequal, margin entire to undulate, inter-secondary nerves common
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences in upper axils, branching lax, the ultimate unit a cyme. Flowers unisexual, 5-merous; sepals free, imbricate, outer 2 smaller or not, concave, margin sometimes petaloid; petals clawed, sericious outside, with a single appendage, or absent; stamens usually 8, barely exserted, with a gland at the apex of the connective; ovary 3(–5)-locular, 1 ovule per locule, style shorter than ovary, stigma 3-grooved
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit indehiscent, subglobose to elliptical with apical style remnant
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed exarillate.
Ecology
Tristiropsis is a canopy tree of lowland rain forests in New Guinea; from sea level to c. 850 m.
Recognition
The genus is unique among New Guinea Sapindaceae for its bipinnate leaves and can also be recognised by the indehiscent, drupaceous fruit with fibrous pericarp and an apical, pointed style remnant.
[TONG]

Sources

  • 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 2024. 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 2024. 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

  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0