Thymelaeaceae

Synaptolepis Oliv.

First published in Hooker's Icon. Pl. 11: t. 1074 (1870)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & S. Africa, Madagascar.

Descriptions

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

Morphology Branches
Branches slender, often twining; bark lenticellate
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate or opposite, petiolate; lamina ovate to elliptic, membranous to subcoriaceous, glabrous; lateral nerves parallel, spreading, prominent beneath; margin thick, recurved Leaves alternate or opposite, petiolate; lamina ovate to elliptic, membranous to subcoriaceous, glabrous; lateral nerves parallel, spreading, prominent beneath; margin thick, recurved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Cymes terminal, or flowers solitary or fascicled in the leaf axils, sessile or shortly stalked Cymes terminal, or flowers solitary or fascicled in the leaf axils, sessile or shortly stalked.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals forming an erect entire or lobed often ciliate ring at the base of the calyx lobes Petals forming an erect entire or lobed often ciliate ring at the base of the calyx lobes.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary shortly stipitate, 1-locular, surrounded at the base by a minute ± deeply lobed disk; style slender; stigma capitate, papillate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit dry, ovoid, enclosed in the persisting base of the calyx tube; pericarp crustaceous Fruit dry, ovoid, enclosed in the persisting base of the calyx tube; pericarp crustaceous.
Ecology
Leaves (10)15–45(63) mm long, (6)10–25(33) mm wide; flowers 3–10 in cymes; some small-leaved forms occurring above 1000 m
Morphology General Habit
Erect small shrubs or woody climbers. Erect small shrubs or woody climbers
Morphology Stem
Branches slender, often twining; bark lenticellate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 5-merous, bracteate, sweetly scented; pedicel sometimes glandular. Flowers 5-merous, bracteate, sweetly scented; pedicel sometimes glandular
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tube cylindric or narrowly funnel-shaped, glabrous. Calyx tube cylindric or narrowly funnel-shaped, glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, in 2 whorls in the upper part of the calyx tube, those opposite the sepals usually slightly exserted. Stamens 10, in 2 whorls in the upper part of the calyx tube, those opposite the sepals usually slightly exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary shortly stipitate, 1-locular, surrounded at the base by a minute ± deeply lobed disk; style slender; stigma capitate, papillate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed without endosperm. Seed without endosperm.
Distribution
Four or five species in tropical and southern Africa, and one in Madagascar. Four or five species in tropical and southern Africa, and one in Madagascar.
[FZ]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or woody climbers
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate or opposite
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers in terminal cymes or axillary, 5-merous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Calyx-tube cylindric. Petals forming an erect entire or lobed ring at the base of the calyx-lobes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, in 2 whorls in upper part of calyx-tube, the upper usually slightly exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 1-celled; disk lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit dry, enclosed by the persistent base of the calyx-tube.
Distribution
Five species in tropical Africa and one on Madagascar.
[FSOM]

Thymelaeaceae, B. Peterson (University of Göteborg). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1978

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals forming an erect, entire or lobed, often ciliate, ring at the base of the calyx-lobes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, in two whorls in the upper part of the calyx-tube, the episepal usually slightly exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary shortly stipitate, 1-locular; surrounded at the base by a minute, ± deeply lobed disc; style slender, stigma capitate, papillate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit dry, ovoid, enclosed in the persistent base of the calyx-tube
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds without endosperm.
Morphology General Habit
Small shrubs or woody climbers
Morphology Branches
Branches slender often twining; bark lenticellate
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate or opposite, petiolate; leaf-blade ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, membranous to subcoriaceous, glabrous, lateral nerves parallel, spreading, prominent beneath, margin thickened
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence terminal cymes or axillary
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 5-merous, solitary or fascicled, bracteate; pedicel sometimes glandular
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-tube cylindric, glabrous
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

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

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • 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 2026. 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 2026. 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