Penaeaceae Sweet ex Guill.

Sebola, R.J. & Balkwill, K. 2013. A monographic study of the Oliniaceae. Kew Bulletin 68: 419. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-013-9465-x

Morphology General Bark

Bark grey, smooth or rough, often peeling or fissured

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs, or small to large trees, evergreen or deciduous branchlets characteristically quadrangular, reddish (young) or pale to grey (mature)

Morphology General Scales

Scales 4 or 5, highly pubescent, incurved and closing tube at bud stage, spreading and reflexed at anthesis exposing stamens

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, opposite, decussate or sub-opposite in growing branches, petiolate, entire, slightly wavy or recurved, obovate, elliptic or lanceolate, often acuminate, rounded or cuneate, glabrous midrib prominent, level or sunken above venation conspicuous or inconspicuous beneath

Morphology Leaves Petiole

Petiole short or distinct with a groove along adaxial surface, reddish or green, glabrous or distinctly pubescent

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules absent or rudimentary

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, 4- or 5-merous, epigynous, arranged in terminal or axillary triads or trichotomous cymes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 4 or 5, arising in floral tube/hypanthium, opposite to and below scales, slightly sessile filaments very short or virtually absent anthers small, didymous, 2-thecous, dehiscing by longitudinal slits, dorsifixed with thickened connective

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 4 or 5, rudimentary or minute ridges on outside of hypanthium rim

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4 or 5, obovate or linear-spathulate, white or pinkish, usually pubescent at base, adnate to hypanthium and inserted at the throat or margin of tube

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary inferior, (3 –) 4 or 5 fused carpels, each forming a locule ovules 3 to 5 per locule, axile, pendulous, superposed, hemitropous, bitegmic style straight, glabrous or distinctly pubescent stigma thickened and globular

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium

Floral tube/hypanthium inserted on the ovary, ending in 4 or 5 minute teeth

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a drupe, globose, dry or with thin flesh, apex with a circular scar left by deciduous floral tube or hypanthium, pink (young) to reddish brown (mature)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence paniculate, terminal or axillary, longer or equalling the leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts opposite, sometimes as long as the flower, papery or leathery, caducous or persistent at or after anthesis

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds obovoid, 3 – 5, testa thick and brown cotyledon spiral or irregularly folded no endosperm.

Type

Type: Olinia Thunb.

Oliniaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1975

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, opposite or ternate, at first sight apparently without stipules but vestiges are present

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite, regular, in terminal or axillary cymes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx-tube joined to the ovary and produced above it as a cylindrical tube, the margin of which is sinuate or minutely 4–5-toothed, ultimately deciduous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4–5, imbricate, linear-oblong to spathulate, inserted on the margin of the calyx-tube, pubescent at the base, alternating with 4–5 small valvate ± incurved pubescent coloured scales which close the throat in the young flower

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium

Stamens 4–5, inserted on the calyx-tube, alternating with the petals, inserted below the scales and at first hidden by them; filaments very short; connective thickened; anthers 2-thecous, dehiscing inwardly; alternating with the stamens are 4–5 bilobed hairy swellings at the base of the petals and usually interpreted as staminodes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium

Ovary inferior, 3–5-locular, with (1–)2–3 pendulous ovules in each locule; placentation axile; style simple with clavate stigma

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a 3–5-locular false drupe with 1 seed per cell

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds with spiral or convolute embryo; endosperm absent