e-Key <span id="jodit_selection_marker_1701435494532_2926604718503931" data-jodit_selection_marker="start" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>v3 - Flacourti<span id="jodit_selection_marker_1701435494532_37680263992278173" data-jodit_selection_marker="end" style="line-height: 0; display: none;"></span>aceae
SANBI Flora Keys Logo
Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

DICOTYLEDON - DILLENIIDAE - VIOLALES - Flacourtiaceae

Compiled by C.L. Bredenkamp

Description:

  • Trees or shrubs, armed or unarmed, monoecious or dioecious, occasionally polygamous
  • Leaves alternate, rarely opposite or whorled, simple, entire or toothed, teeth often glandular; stipules present or 0
  • Inflorescence axillary or terminal, racemose, corymbose or paniculate, or flowers fasciculate or solitary
  • Flowers regular, bisexual or unisexual
  • Sepals 3-6 or more, free or connate below into a calyx tube, contorted or imbricate, rarely valvate, often persistent or accrescent
  • Petals as many as sepals, or more, or 0, usually small and inconspicuous, free, contorted or imbricate, with or without a scale on inner face
  • Disc extrastaminal or with free glands between stamens or of staminode-like scales inserted at base of petals, often adnate to receptacle
  • Stamens 5-many, free or rarely connate, sometimes alternating with staminodes; anthers 2-thecous, dehiscing by longitudinal slits, rarely by apical pores
  • Ovary superior or more rarely semi-inferior, 1-locular with 1-many ovules on 2-8 parietal placentas, rarely ovules axile; styles 1-10, free or connate
  • Fruit a capsule or berry, 1-many-seeded
  • Seeds usually small, sometimes arillate; testa woody, leathery or chartaceous; embryo straight; cotyledons usually broad; endosperm fleshy, copious, rarely thin or 0

Nomenclature:

  • Flacourtiaceae
    • Harvey: 65 (1860) under Bixaceae, Endl.
    • Wild: 261 (1960)
    • Killick: 53 (1976)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global: Genera 89, species ± 1250, mainly tropical and subtropical, Old and New World
  • Southern Africa: Genera 13, species 25

References:

  • HARVEY, W.H. 1860. Bixaceae. Flora capensis 1
  • KILLICK, D.J.B. 1976. Flacourtiaceae. Flora of southern Africa 22
  • WILD, H. 1960. Flacourtiaceae (including Samydaceae). Flora zambesiaca 1