Malpighiaceae |
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Thulin, M. (1993) Malpighiaceae in Flora of Somalia 1: 260-266 Plants usually woody climbers, sometimes shrubs or small trees, with appressed medifixed hairs. Leaves opposite in threes, or alternate, with or without stipules, often with glands on the petioles or near the base of the blades; blades simple, with entire margins. Inflorescences with few to many flowers, racemose. Flowers radially or bilaterally symmetric, bisexual (in Africa); sepals 5, free or united at the base, persistent, often with glands on the outer surfaces; petals 5, usually clawed, free, imbricate, entire or with fringed or dentate margins; stamens 10, the outer 5 opposite the petals; filaments often united at the base; anthers with 2 thecae, introrse; ovaries superior, (2-)3(-5)-celled, wih 1 pendulous, axile ovule in each cell; styles as many as the cells. Fruits schizocarps, usually winged samaras, rarely drupes; seeds without endosperm; embryos large, usually straight. The family Malpighiaceae includes about 60 genera and 1200 speices. It is pantropical, extending into the subtropics, and most abundant in the New World. ©Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Reproduced with permission.
Y. Nasir (1973) Malpighiaceae. Flora of West Pakistan 45: 1-4 Plants usually climbing shrubs, sometimes trees. Leaves with or without stipules, opposite; blades simple. Inflorescences axillary or terminal racemes or panicles. Flowers bisexual; sepals 5, united, a few with glands at the base; petals 5, clawed; stamens uually 10, sometimes fewer, in two whorls, the outer sometimes opposite the petals; filaments connate at the base; anthers bilobed, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovaries superior, 3-locular, with axile placentation; ovules 1 per locule. Fruits schizocarpic, of 3, often winged, mericarps or a drupe. Seeds without endosperm. The The family Malpighiaceae includes about 60 genera and in now thought to include about 1200 species, not just 800 as stated in the Nasir's account. |
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