Cardiopteridaceae Blume

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

Distribution

A small family of five genera with c. 40 species. Members of this family were, until recently, considered as members of the Icacinaceae with the twining vine Cardiopteris Wall. ex Royle as the sole member of the Cardiopteridaceae.

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs to trees, occasionally climbers. Sap not usually present but milky latex present in Cardiopteris

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules absent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, alternate, usually entire, rarely serrate. Inflorescences axillary, terminal, ramiflorous or cauliflorous, panicles, cymes, spikes or fascicles

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual or unisexual, usually small, 4–5-merous; calyx connate at the base, 5-lobed; petals free or fused at the base or into a narrow tube with 5 usually very short lobes; stamens 4–5, filaments adnate to the corolla tube or free, not exserted, anthers introrse; ovary superior, unilocular, ovules 2 apical, pendulous; stigma on a long slender style, or style short and conical-Fruit drupaceous (and often with a psuedoseptum or pseudo-loculus inside the endocarp), or dry and flattened with 2 wings

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed 1, sometimes folded around the pseudo-septum.