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

Sapotaceae - Vitellariopsis Baill. ex Dubard

Description :

  • Shrubs or medium-sized trees
  • Leaves crowded at tips of branches, firm, but not coriaceous; stipules 0
  • Flowers in axils of leaves or of scaly bracts, 1-4 together, appearing to be in umbels of up to 20 flowers or more, because of density of leaves; pedicels usually ± pendulous
  • Calyx 6- or 8(10)-lobed, in 2 whorls, divided nearly to base
  • Corolla 3- or 4-merous; tube short; lobes and lateral appendages subequal
  • Stamens 6 or 8; anthers longer than filaments, apiculate; staminodes usually entire, concave and pubescent on outer surface
  • Ovary 6- or 8-locular, usually subglobose; ovules with lateral or basilateral attachment; style terete, subacute or obtuse
  • Fruit 1(2)-seeded
  • Seed with thin testa and broad scar on ventral side; endosperm absent; cotyledons thick and fleshy

Nomenclature:

  • Vitellariopsis Baill. ex Dubard
    • Dubard: 44 (1915)
    • Hemsley: 159 (1968)
    • Kupicha: 240 (1983)
    • Pennington: 123 (1991)
  • Austromimusops Meeuse
    • Meeuse: 347 (1960)
    • Meeuse: 42 (1963)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 6, E and S Africa
  • Southern Africa : Species 2, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape

References:

  • DUBARD, M. 1915. Les Sapotacées du groupe des Sideroxylinées-Mimusopées. Annales de l' Institut Botanico-géologique Colonial de Marseille 3,3
  • HEMSLEY, J.H. 1968. Flora of tropical East Africa . Sapotaceae
  • KUPICHA, F.K. 1983. Sapotaceae . Flora zambesiaca 7,1
  • MEEUSE, A.D.J. 1960. Notes on the Sapotaceae of southern Africa. Bothalia 7
  • MEEUSE, A.D.J. 1963. Sapotaceae . Flora of southern Africa 26
  • PENNINGTON, T.D. 1991. The genera of Sapotaceae . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew & The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx