Rhamnaceae

Disseminule

fruit, fruit segment (usually endocarpendocarp:
the inner layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
exposed), or seed

Description

Fruit usually indehiscentindehiscent:
not opening on its own, as in a fruit
, schizocarpschizocarp:
fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp)
(usually splitting into 3 endocarpids sometimes explosively so), drupedrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
, rarely samarasamara:
a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s)
. Dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit)
, sometimes explosively so, 3–4 carpellate capsulescapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
. Fruits 1.5–30 mm (cultivated Ziziphus drupesdrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
to 50 mm, and Ventilago or Smythea samarassamara:
a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s)
to 70 mm including wing), globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to butterfly-shaped, often tri-lobed, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
to compressedcompressed:
flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally
in transectiontransection:
a cross section; representing a plane made by cutting across an organ at a right angle to its length
, 1–4-seeded, often calyxcalyx:
the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
and stylestyle:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit
persistent, sometimes with torus visible at base of fruit. SamarasSamara:
a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s)
winged, terminal or hemisphericalhemispherical:
2D shape—shaped like half a sphere
, and schizocarpsschizocarp:
fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp)
, sometimes longitudinally winged. SamarasSamara:
a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s)
and schizocarpschizocarp:
fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp)
endocarpids or hemimericarps, usually 1-seeded. DrupesDrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
1–4 pyrenespyrene:
the hard inner portion of a drupe, consisting of a bony endocarp and an enclosed seed
, each usually 1-seeded. CapsulesCapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
few seeded. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
gray, black, purple, greenish, brown, yellow, or orange (drupes also blue or white), shinyshiny:
uniformly reflecting a high proportion of incident light at all angles
or dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
, dry (samara, schizocarpsschizocarp:
fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp)
, capsulescapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
) or fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
(drupes), glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
or pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
, usually smooth. SamarasSamara:
a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s)
striate or veiny. DrupesDrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
sometimes 2–4 furrowed or wrinkledwrinkled:
surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out
. Ceanothus capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
surface variable, smooth or lobed, wrinkledwrinkled:
surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out
, crested, or with hornshorn:
a straight or curved, slenderly conic or conoidal protrusion, resembling an animal horn
. Endocarpendocarp:
the inner layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
thin or thickthick:
having or being of relatively great depth
, usually woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
or bonybony:
very hard and rather brittle, like bone
, sometimes cartilaginouscartilaginous:
texture—firm, dense, tough, somewhat pliable, and resilient, like cartilage
. In schizocarpsschizocarp:
fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp)
, endocarpendocarp:
the inner layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
may be brightly colored compared to exocarpexocarp:
outer layer of fruit wall or pericarp, if divided into layers; note here used synonymously with epicarp
and mesocarpmesocarp:
the middle layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
.

Seed often compressedcompressed:
flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally
or flattened, globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to angularangular:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles
, triangulartriangular:
2D shape—three relatively straight sides with distinct corners; more angular than teardrop-shaped
, 1–12 mm. Arilaril:
(broad sense) appendicular structure that wholly or partly envelops a seed and is produced from or a modification of the funicle, raphe, or outer integument; usually fleshy or pulpy, sometimes spongy or tufted-capillate, often brightly colored
present or absent, if present, fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
, lobed or fimbriate, translucenttranslucent:
transmitting light uniformly and diffusely
, yellow, brown or black, varying in size from inconspicuous to enclosing the seed. Seed coat gray, black, purple, brown, yellow orange, red, or cream, dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
or shinyshiny:
uniformly reflecting a high proportion of incident light at all angles
, crustaceouscrustaceous:
texture—thin, dry, indurate, and brittle
, bonybony:
very hard and rather brittle, like bone
, or leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
, smooth or furrowed, pittedpitted:
surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net
, wrinkledwrinkled:
surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out
, or colliculose.

Embryo well developed, parallel to seed length, nearly filling seed cavity, foliatefoliate:
appearing leaf-like
, straight, rarely bentbent:
(of embryo) embryo is bent at an acute, V-shaped angle with the ends close together and generally thick cotyledons
, usually green, with investinginvesting:
(of embryo) embryo is nearly or completely filling seed coat, straight, and axile and centric with spatulate cotyledons and covering the stalk for at least half its length; (of cotyledons) cotyledons spatulate and covering the stalk for at least half its length
or spatulatespatulate:
2D shape—like a spatula; rounded at the apex, with base long and tapered; (of embryo) embryo is straight and axile and centric with the cotyledons expanded to form the shape of a spatula or spoon; (of cotyledons) cotyledons expanded and wider than the stalk but not invested into the stalk
cotyledons.

Endosperm endosperm:
nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds
moderate to absent, usually smooth, ruminateruminate:
testa or seed coat folded into the endosperm
in Reynosia.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	drupe, capsulecapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels , schizocarpschizocarp: fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp) , rarely samara
Size range	1.5–70 mm long
Shape(s)	globose, urceolateurceolate: 3D shape—urn-shaped, hollow and contracted near the apex , trilobed, ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , fusiformfusiform: spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , obovoidobovoid: 3D shape—obovate , cylindriccylindrical: 3D shape—a cylinder, with parallel sides and a circular cross-section; tubular or rod-shaped , oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , triquetrous, angularangular: 2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles , butterfly-shaped
Texture	dry (leathery or paperypapery: texture—papyraceous, chartaceous; very thin, pliable, and readily torn; like paper ), fleshyfleshy: texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut (pulpy, corkycorky: firm, relatively light, discontinuous but strongly cohesive, and resilient or spongyspongy: soft, light, discontinuous but cohesive, and somewhat resilient )
Surface relief	smooth, striatestriate: surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges , veiny, 2–4 furrowed, wrinkledwrinkled: surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out , crested, with hornshorn: a straight or curved, slenderly conic or conoidal protrusion, resembling an animal horn or bulges
Color(s)	gray, black, blue, purple, greenish, brown, yellow, orange, white
Unique features	Fruits dry, indehiscentindehiscent: not opening on its own, as in a fruit , winged (apical, laterallateral: (of embryo) embryo lies along the side of the seed, generally towards one end; of, at, or from the side; in grasses, can refer to the sides adjacent to the dorsal and ventral sides , hemisphericalhemispherical: 2D shape—shaped like half a sphere ) or not, samarasamara: a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s) , schizocarpschizocarp: fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp) , capsulecapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels , fleshyfleshy: texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut drupesdrupe: (indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds with 1–4 indehiscentindehiscent: not opening on its own, as in a fruit , rarely dehiscentdehiscent: (v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit) pyrenes
Seed
Size range	1–12 mm long
Shape(s)	globose globose: 3D shape—more or less spherical or orbicularorbicular: 2D shape—circular in outline, 3D shape—globose , planoconvex, ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , obovoidobovoid: 3D shape—obovate , oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , reniformreniform: 2D or 3D shape—kidney-shaped to heart-shapedheart-shaped: 2D or 3D shape—one end has prominent double curved into two lobes, the other end angular or pointed , angular
Surface relief	smooth, furrowed, pittedpitted: surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net , wrinkledwrinkled: surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out , colliculose
Color(s)	gray, black, purple, brown, yellow orange, red, or cream
Unique features	Seeds often with dorsaldorsal: abaxial; the back of an organ; the side away from the axis (compare ventral) furrow, arillate or not, with large green, embryo and usually scanty to no endospermendosperm: nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds .
Other
Embryo	well developed, parallel to seed length, nearly filling seed cavity, foliatefoliate: appearing leaf-like , straight, rarely bentbent: (of embryo) embryo is bent at an acute, V-shaped angle with the ends close together and generally thick cotyledons , usually green, with investinginvesting: (of embryo) embryo is nearly or completely filling seed coat, straight, and axile and centric with spatulate cotyledons and covering the stalk for at least half its length; (of cotyledons) cotyledons spatulate and covering the stalk for at least half its length or spatulatespatulate: 2D shape—like a spatula; rounded at the apex, with base long and tapered; (of embryo) embryo is straight and axile and centric with the cotyledons expanded to form the shape of a spatula or spoon; (of cotyledons) cotyledons expanded and wider than the stalk but not invested into the stalk cotyledons
Nutritive tissuenutritive tissue: tissue within the seeds that nourishes the developing embryo; such as endosperm, perisperm, or chalazosperm in angiosperms; megagametophyte in gymnosperms	endosperm endosperm: nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds moderate to absent, usually smooth, ruminateruminate: testa or seed coat folded into the endosperm in Reynosia

Distribution

Worldwide

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

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*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016Christenhusz and Byng 2016:
Christenhusz MJM and Byng JW. 2016. The number of known plant species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa 261 (3): 201-217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.