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

DICOTYLEDON - ROSIDAE - ROSALES - Cunoniaceae

Compiled by M. Jordaan

Description :

  • Trees or shrubs, evergreen, glabrous
  • Leaves opposite, trifoliolate or imparipinnate, leathery, often glandular, usually with serrate margins; stipules either conspicuous and united in pairs or small, caducous
  • Inflorescences dense, spike-like racemes or axillary panicles
  • Flowers regular, bisexual, small
  • Calyx : sepals 4 or 5, imbricate or valvate, free or sometimes connate at base
  • Petals 4 or 5, free or connate at base, imbricate, entire or toothed or 3-lobed
  • Stamens free, 8 or 10, alternating with petals, inserted on disc; anthers 2-thecous, didymous, with longitudinal slits
  • Disc annular, nectar-secreting
  • Ovary superior, 2-locular; ovules apotropus, 2-many per locule with axile or apical placentation; styles 2, free; stigmas simple
  • Fruit a capsule, crowned by persistent styles
  • Seeds oblong or ovoid, sometimes winged; testa thin; endosperm copious; embryo small

Nomenclature:

  • Cunoniaceae
    • Brown: 548 (1814)
    • Candolle: 12 (1830) as Saxifragaceae
    • Endlicher: 819 (1839) as Saxifragaceae suborder Cunonieae
    • Harvey: 305 (1862) as Saxifragaceae
    • Engler: 94 (1891) as Cunoniaceae
    • Engler: 229 (1928) as Cunoniaceae

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Genera ± 6, species ± 250, native to the southern hemisphere, with main centres of distribution Oceania and Australasia, but 2 genera in tropical America
  • Southern Africa : Genera 2, species 2

References:

  • BROWN, R. 1814. Cunoniaceae . In Flinders, Voyage Botany 2, Appendix III. W. Nicol, London
  • CANDOLLE, A.-P. DE. 1830. Saxifragaceae . Prodromus 4. Treuttel & Würtz, Paris
  • ENDLICHER, S.L. 1839. Saxifragaceae suborder Cunonieae . Genera plantarum secundum ordines naturales disposita 2. Beck, Vienna
  • ENGLER, A. 1891. Cunoniaceae . Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien III,2a
  • ENGLER, A. 1928. Cunoniaceae . Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien edn 2, 18a
  • HARVEY, W.H. 1862. Saxifragaceae . Flora capensis 2

Resources:

  • Cunoniaceae genera:
Cunonia Platylophus