e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1707483627642_7145858724484908" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Cassin<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1707483627642_31477062121703514" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>opsis
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Icacinaceae - Cassinopsis Sond.

Description:

  • Tall shrubs or small trees, glabrous, often spinescent
  • Leaves opposite, elliptic to ovate, sometimes toothed
  • Flowers small, bisexual, in axillary, dichotomously branched panicles, alternating from node to node
  • Calyx 5-lobed or -segmented
  • Petals 5, usually free, longer than calyx, imbricate, white
  • Stamens 5, alternating with petals; filaments subterete
  • Disc absent
  • Ovary sessile, pubescent, 1-locular, with 2 pendulous ovules; style sometimes sublateral, simple or obscurely lobed
  • Fruit a nearly dry, subglobose or ovoid drupe with a woody endocarp
  • Seed solitary, endosperm copious

Nomenclature:

  • Cassinopsis Sond.
    • Sonder: 473 (1860) under Aquifoliaceae
    • Mendes: 341 (1963)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Species 6, Africa and Madagascar
  • Southern Africa: Species 2 in forest areas

References:

  • MENDES, E.J. 1963. Icacinaceae. Flora zambesiaca 2,1
  • SONDER, O.W. 1860. Aquifoliaceae. Flora capensis 1