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

Sapindaceae - Paullinia L.

Description :

  • Woody slender climbers, monoecious, often with coiled tendrils at base of inflorescence; stems cable-like, appearing to be composed of several coalescent axes
  • Leaves imparipinnate; petiole and rachis commonly winged; stipulate; leaflets 2-jugate
  • Flowers slightly irregular; in an axillary thyrse, simple, branched or clustered
  • Sepals 5, unequal, 2 inner ones connate at base
  • Petals 4, with prominent scale
  • Disc unilateral with 4 glands
  • Stamens and staminodes 8, excentric; filaments shortly connate at base
  • Ovary stalked, 3-locular, sometimes 3-angled, pubescent; with a single ovule in each locule; style trifid
  • Fruit a 3-valved, obovoid capsule, sometimes spiny, dehiscing into 3 valves
  • Seeds borne on central axis, black with white aril
  • x = 12

Nomenclature:

  • Paullinia L.
    • Linnaeus: 365 (1753)
    • Exell: 512 (1966)
    • Davies & Verdcourt: 102 (1998)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 200 in tropical and subtropical America
  • Southern Africa : 1 species: Paullinia pinnata L., NE Botswana

References:

  • DAVIES, F.G. & VERDCOURT, B. 1998. Flora of tropical East Africa . Sapindaceae
  • EXELL, A.W. 1966. Sapindaceae . Flora zambesiaca 2, 2
  • LINNAEUS, C. 1753. Species plantarum , edn 1. Laurentius Salvius, Stockholm