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

Flacourtiaceae - Homalium Jacq.

Description :

  • Trees or shrubs
  • Leaves alternate, petiolate; blade ovate, elliptic, suborbicular or oblong, sometimes large; stipules 0, minute or large
  • Inflorescence an axillary or terminal raceme or panicle
  • Flowers bisexual
  • Calyx : tube turbinate; sepals 7-9, usually narrow, persistent
  • Petals 7-9, inserted in mouth of calyx tube, alternating with and similar to sepals but broader, persistent
  • Stamens solitary or in fascicles of 2 or 3 or more, alternating with glands which are adnate to base of sepals, terete; anthers small, didymous
  • Ovary semisuperior, 1-locular with 2-5 parietal placentas; styles 2-5; stigmas simple or capitate
  • Fruit a semisuperior, leathery capsule, 1- or few-seeded, opening at apex by 2-5 valves
  • Seeds 1 or few
  • x = 9, 10, 11 (1 report each)

Nomenclature:

  • Homalium Jacq.
    • Jacquin 5, 24 (1760)
    • Harvey: 72 (1860)
    • Wild: 287 (1960)
    • Sleumer: 239 (1973)
    • Killick: 74 (1976)
  • Blackwellia Comm.
    • Commerson: 343 (1789)
    • Harvey: 72 (1860)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 180, cosmopolitan, tropical and subtropical
  • Southern Africa : Species 3, Namibia, Northern Province, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape near East London

References:

  • COMMERSON, P. 1789. Ordo X. Rosaceae . In A.-L. de Jussieu, Genera plantarum . Reprint 1964 by J. Cramer, Weinheim
  • HARVEY, W.H. 1860. Bixaceae . Flora capensis 1
  • JACQUIN, N.J. VON. 1760. Enumeratio systematica plantarum : 5, 24. Theodor Haak, Leiden
  • KILLICK, D.J.B. 1976. Flacourtiaceae . Flora of southern Africa 22
  • SLEUMER, H. 1973. Révision du genre Homalium Jacq. ( Flacourtiacées ) en Afrique (y compris Madagascar et les Mascareignes). Bulletin du Jardin Botanique National de Belgique 43
  • WILD, H. 1960. Flacourtiaceae (including Samydaceae ). Flora zambesiaca 1