Zygophyllum L.

Zygophyllaceae, E. Launert. Flora Zambesiaca 2:1. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Small shrubs or shrublets, rarely perennial or annual herbs, often armed.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, (1) 2-foliolate, succulent, often caducous; leaflets very variable in size and shape, subcircular, spathulate, elliptic, linear, lanceolate or lanceolate-elliptic.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules present, often spiny.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary or sometimes 2-nate, terminal.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 4–5, imbricate, persistent or deciduous, sometimes connate at the base, somewhat fleshy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4–5, sometimes unguiculate, usually longer than the sepals, imbricate, whitish or yellow and often with a red spot at the base, spreading.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk cup-shaped, fleshy, 8–10-angled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8–10, inserted at the base of the disk; filaments subulate, provided with a usually fimbriate or pectinate, bifid or bipartite appendage at the base; anthers oblong or oblong-ovate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary sessile on the disk, 4–5-locular, with 2 or more pendulous ovules in each loculus; style simple, terete, with a small stigma.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a capsule or samara, 4–5-locular, 4–5-angled or winged, usually with several seeds.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds crustaceous, with scanty endosperm.

Zygophyllaceae, M. Nabil El Hadidi (Faculty of Science, Cairo University). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1985

Morphology General Habit

Annual herbs, or mostly biennial or perennial shrubs or undershrubs, glabrous or covered with an indumentum which is characteristic for each species; branches mostly erect, sometimes angular or grooved, swollen at the nodes

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paired at each node, equal in size, mostly 3-foliolate becoming 1-foliolate through reduction with a characteristic joint between petiole and blade, rarely sessile; stipules usually develop into spines, rarely absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary at each node, up to 20 mm. across, 5-merous, regular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10 in 2 whorls; filaments without a basal scale

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit an obconical capsule; peduncle longer or shorter than the capsule; calyx persistent or deciduous at maturity of the capsule

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds with endosperm; testa brown, punctate.

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

Morphology General Habit

Herbs, subshrubs or small shrubs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, equal in size, 1–3-foliolate or simple; stipules usually spinescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary at each node, 5-merous, regular. Petals pink or sometimes white

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10, in 2 whorls; filaments without scales

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disc inconspicuous, smooth

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovary 5-angled, nearly always pubescent, 5-celled; style and stigma simple

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a loculicidal capsule, ± obconical

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds with endosperm, mucilaginous but without internal structures; hilum much shorter than seed; aril absent.

Distribution

In the drier parts of Africa, Asia, Mediterranean Region and N America.

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

Distribution

Some 40 species in the dry parts of Africa and Asia, also extending into the Mediterranean Region.

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs, shrublets or herbs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paired at each node, 1- or 2-foliolate or simple; stipules membranous or fleshy, ± fused

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary or in cymes or clusters at the nodes, (4–)5-merous, regular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals white, yellow or pale orange

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10 in 2 whorls; filaments with basal appendages

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disc angular, smooth

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous or shortly hairy, usually 5-lobed, 5-celled, each cell with few to numerous ovules; style and stigma simple

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a schizocarp, mericarps opening septicidally or indehiscent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds with endosperm; outer testa mucilaginous with internal funnel- or rod-like structures.