Malesherbiaceae

Abstract

Shrubs, subshrubs or perennial or annual herbs, erect or procumbent, with foetid smell; indumentum of unicellular simple and glandular, subcapitate hairs. Leaves alternate, simple, sometimes pinnatifid, sessile or shortly petiolate; stipule-like leaves present at base of most leaves and bracts. Inflorescences leafy panicles or simple or compound racemes, rarely fasciculate or dichasial, or flowers solitary. Flowers regular, perfect, the pedicels usually provided with prophylls; floral tube chartaceous, tubular, obconic, campanulate or funnelform, 10-nerved, 4-48 mm long; perianth and corona inserted at rim of floral tube; sepals 5, imbricate; petals 5, cochlear, ± clawed; corona well-developed to obsolete, when present, then surmounting the perianth and represented by a raised band of tissue at the base of the perianth; androgynophore 1.5– 13.5 mm long, with or without a ring of thickened tissue where joining the ovary; stamens 5, extending beyond the throat of the floral tube and corona, the filaments inserted on the androgynophore immediately below the ovary; anthers tetrasporangiate, dorsi fixed, dehiscing longitudinally; gynoecium 3(4)-carpellate, ovary superior, 1-locular, with numerous ovules on parietal placentae; stylodia free, filiform, extending beyond the anthers, inserted below the top of ovary and alternating with the placentae. Fruits stipitate capsules, enclosed by persistent floral tube, often tearing perianth and corona upon dehiscence, dehiscing at apex with 3-4 valves. Seeds 1-many, exarillate, ovoid, with crustaceous, pitted seed coat, fleshy endosperm and straight, medium-sized embryo.

Keywords

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