Lacistemataceae

Disclaimer

Content is from Kirkbride et al. 2006, without modification. 
Updates are forthcoming.

Taxonomy

Lacistemataceae C. v. Martius

Common name: Lacistema Family.

Number of genera: 2 genera.

Number of species (Mabberley 1997): 14 species.

Disseminule

Fruit (dehisced), or seed.

Description

Fruits: Pistil(s) compound; 1; 1-pistillate; with carpels united. Fruit pericarpium; simple; capsule; loculicidal capsule (not Spjut); capsule not inflated; capsule without operculum; without persistent central column; not within accessory organ(s); 1-seeded to more than 1 but less than 10-seeded; 1(–3)-seeded; with 2–3-carpellate; with carpels united; with carpels remaining united at maturity; with carpels not radiating at maturity; with carpels remaining connected at style; without sterile carpels; not sulcate; in transection terete, or angled; 4-angled; apex not beaked; wall often fleshy; dehiscent. Dehiscent unit seed(s). Dehiscent passively (assumed); without replum. Epicarp durable; glabrous; without armature; smooth, or not smooth; ridged (on 4 angles); without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Endocarp present; not separating from exocarp; thin; not splitting into 1-seeded pyrenes; smooth; without wing; without operculum; without secretory cavities; without mechanism for seedling escape; without grooves; without longitudinal ridges. Funiculus short; short without seed bearing hooks (retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.

Seeds: Aril absent, or present; a true aril; well developed; fleshy; fleshy. Seed larger than minute; ovate, or circular (sub); not bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s); at maturity with food reserves; with endosperm (Goldberg noted "(? perisperm)"); without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent. Testa present; without markedly different marginal tissue; without fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer; loose, or tight; dull; surface unsmooth; surface with merged raised features; surface reticulate; without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other; without glands; without bristles; glabrous; without wings; without collar; without operculum; colored; monochrome; not becoming mucilaginous when wetted; surrounding food reserve. Endosperm development nuclear; copious; fleshy; smooth; with oils; without fatty acid containing cyclopropene; without apical lobes; without chlorophyll; without isodiametric faceted surface; without odor. Embryo differentiated from food reserve; well developed; 1 per seed; partially filling testa (with food reserve); 0.9 times the length of food reserve (probably less according to Karen's drawings); at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; axile and centric; Lozania linear, or foliate (Lacistema); parallel to seed length; with cotyledons Lozania gradually connected to hypocotyl-radicle, or abruptly connected to hypocotyl-radicle (Lacistema); without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; with cotyledons containing oils; without stomata; not green; with 2 or more cotyledons. Cotyledons 2; well developed; 0.4–0.6 times length of embryo; Lozania as wide as hypocotyl-radicle, or somewhat to significantly wider than hypocotyl-radicle (Lacistema); 5.5–6 times wider than hypocotyl-radicle; not concealing hypocotyl-radicle; Lozania foliaceous, or not foliaceous (Lacistema); thin; flat; smooth; with apices entire; with margins separate; equal in size; not punctate dotted. Hypocotyl-radicle vestigial; straight; not thickened.

Distribution

General distribution: New World.

Detailed distribution: Middle America and South America.

Notes

Spjut did not recognize this family. Goldberg reproduced the illustrations of Martius.

References

General references: Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) & 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) & 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, & J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 & amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The plant-book, 706 p. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Martius, C.F.P. von. 1840–1906. Flora Brasiliensis. 15 vols. Lindaueri, Munich, and Roosmalen, M.G.M. van. 1985. Fruits of the Guianan flora, 483 pp. Institute of Systematic Botany, Wageningen Agricultural University. Drukkerij Veenman B.V., Wageningen.