e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1709287986648_6998802914363065" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Empleur<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1709287986648_2024530835691547" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>idium
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Celastraceae - Empleuridium Sond.

Description:

  • Ericoid, erect, unarmed, short-lived shrubs, glabrous
  • Leaves scattered, simple, needle-like; stipules small, scale-like
  • Flowers axillary, solitary, small, pedicellate
  • Calyx 4-partite, with ovate, acute segments
  • Petals 4, ovate, acute, spreading, whitish
  • Disc 4-lobed
  • Stamens 4, arising on margin of disc, opposite calyx segments; anthers introrse
  • Ovary half-inferior, elongate after anthesis, 1-locular, with 4 erect, basal ovules; style short, persistent; stigma capitate
  • Fruit relatively large, fusiform, follicle-like, 1-seeded, dehiscing entirely along one suture
  • Seeds black, large, with a large, white, basal aril (elaiosome)

Nomenclature:

  • Empleuridium Sond.
    • Sonder in Harvey: 49 (1859)
    • Sonder: 442 (1860) assigned to Rutaceae
    • Goldblatt et al.: 167 (1985)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Southern Africa: Monotypic: Empleuridium juniperinum Sond. & Harv., mountains in the Caledon District (Western Cape)

References:

  • GOLDBLATT, P., TOBE, H., CARLQUIST, S. & PATEL, V.C. 1985. Familial position of the Cape genus Empleuridium. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 72
  • HARVEY, W.H. 1859. Thesaurus capensis, Vol. 1. Hodges, Smith & Co., Dublin
  • SONDER, O.W. 1860. Rutaceae. Flora capensis 1