e-Key v3 - *Mangifera
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Anacardiaceae - *Mangifera L.

Description :

  • Erect, evergreen trees, polygamous
  • Leaves alternate, simple, entire
  • Flowers : male and bisexual flowers in same terminal or subterminal panicles
  • Sepals (4)5(-7), free, imbricate
  • Petals (4)5(-7), imbricate, dark yellow nerves conspicuous
  • Stamens 5-10, 1(2-5) fertile, others sterile; filaments filiform
  • Disc 4- or 5-lobulate or vestigeal
  • Ovary subglobose, 1-locular with a single ovule; style 1
  • Fruit a fleshy drupe, subreniform or ovoid with fleshy mesocarp and fibrous woody endocarp
  • Seeds oblong-ovoid, compressed, with chartaceous testa; embryo with cotyledons plano-convex; radicle ascendent
  • x = 10 (polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • *Mangifera L.
    • Linnaeus: 200 (1753)
    • Fernandes & Fernandes: 552 (1966)
    • Kokwaro: 3 (1986)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 62 in SE Asia
  • Southern Africa : Many cultivars of * Mangifera indica L. (Mango), widely cultivated and sometimes escapes in subtropical forests in KwaZulu-Natal

References:

  • FERNANDES, R. & FERNANDES, A. 1966. Anacardiaceae . Flora zambesiaca 2,2
  • KOKWARO, J.O. 1986. Anacardiaceae . Flora of tropical East Africa . Anacardiaceae
  • LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum . Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm