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

DICOTYLEDON - ROSIDAE - LINALES - Erythroxylaceae

Compiled by C.L. Bredenkamp

Description :

  • Trees, shrubs, or undershrubs, glabrous
  • Leaves usually alternate, occasionally opposite, simple, entire or sometimes slightly crenate; stipules intrapetiolar, rarely extrapetiolar, persistent, deciduous or caducous
  • Flowers regular, bisexual, rarely unisexual, small, solitary or fascicled or inflorescence a panicle of cymes; bracts present or absent
  • Calyx with (4)5(6) sepals, free or ± connate, persistent
  • Petals as many as sepals, free, imbricate, deciduous, usually with a transverse, bifid scale at base of limb, rarely wide, but if so, then texture of claw different from that of limb
  • Stamens twice as many as petals; filaments united at base
  • Ovary superior, usually 2- or 3-locular with 1 or 2 axile, pendulous ovules in each locule, sometimes all but one locule aborted; styles 3-5, free or more or less connate; stigmas oblique, depressed-capitate or clavate
  • Fruit a drupe

Nomenclature:

  • Erythroxylaceae
    • Browne: 278 (1756)
    • Sonder: 233 (1860)
    • Engler: 109 (1902)
    • Robson: 102 (1963)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Genera 4, species ± 260, tropical, especially American
  • Southern Africa : Genera 2, species 6

References:

  • BROWNE, P. 1756. Erythroxylum . The civil and natural history of Jamaica in three parts , edn 1. Published by the author, London
  • ENGLER, A. 1902. Erythroxylaceae . Botanische Jahrbücher 32
  • ROBSON, N.K.B. 1963. Erythroxylaceae . Flora zambesiaca 2
  • SONDER, O.W. 1860. Erythroxyleae . Flora capensis 1

Resources:

  • Erythroxylaceae genera:
Erythroxylum Nectaropetalum