Helictonema Pierre

Celastraceae, N.K.B. Robson, N. Hallé, B. Mathew and R. Blakelock†. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1994

Morphology General Habit

Tall lianes with terete stems, conspicuously pubescent, particularly the younger growths

Morphology General Exudate

Latex absent

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules small, obscured by the hairs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, petiolate; blade entire, with stellate hairs especially beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence of paired cymes, without accessory branches, the cymes often combining to form large panicles; bracts caducous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers large, pedicellate, 12–15 mm. in diameter; buds subglobose, enclosed to the apex by the sepals

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5, imbricate, pubescent, unguiculate, with conspicuously fimbriate margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disc spreading, many-lobed, separated by a constriction from an expanded fleshy androgynophore which is crowned with hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 3, the filaments bent outwards; anthers with extrorse transverse dehiscence; pollen simple, tricolporate, coarsely reticulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary with 3 locules, each with many ovules; stigma punctiform

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit dry with 3 dehiscent mericarps, each with 2 non-caducous valves; valves densely lined with hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds densely pubescent around the embryo, with a well-developed wing which has both a marginal vein and marginal raphe (i.e. raphe is not submedian); no pocket-like structure at the point of attachment (such as occur in Simirestis and Pristimera) but sometimes with the vestiges of arils.