Rhynchocalyaceae

Disclaimer

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

Taxonomy

Rhynchocalyaceae L.A. Johnson & B. Briggs

Common name: Rhynchocalyx Family.

Number of genera: 1 genus.

Number of species (Mabberley 1997): 1 species (Rhynchocalyx lawsonioides Oliver).

Disseminule

Fruit (dehisced), or seed.
 

Description

Fruits: Pistil(s) compound; 1; 1-pistillate; with carpels nearly separate to base. Fruit pericarpium; simple; capsule; loculicidal capsule (assumed); capsule not inflated; capsule without operculum; without persistent central column; not within accessory organ(s); many-seeded; many; without sterile carpels; apex not beaked; dehiscent. Dehiscent unit seed(s). Dehiscent regularly (only upper one-half opening); passively; at apex (only); without replum. Epicarp durable; without armature; without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Endocarp present; not separating from exocarp; thin; not splitting into 1-seeded pyrenes; without operculum; without secretory cavities; without longitudinal ridges. Funiculus short; short without seed bearing hooks (retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.

Seeds: Seed larger than minute; less than 1 mm long, or 1 to less than 5 mm long; 1 mm long; ellipsoid, or ovate; in transection flattened; not bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s); without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent. Testa present; with markedly different marginal tissue; marginal tissue winglike; without fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer; shiny; without glands; without bristles; glabrous; with wing(s); 1-winged; with wing on one side (& 2 times seed length); without collar; without operculum; colored; monochrome; not becoming mucilaginous when wetted. Raphe conspicuous (running lateral to wing margin). Embryo differentiated from food reserve (assumed); well developed; without coleorhiza; with 2 or more cotyledons (assumed). Cotyledons 2 (assumed); equal in size; not punctate dotted.

Notes

Beusekom-Osinga & Beusekom (1975): "Fruit superior, more or less didymousm laterally compressed, glabrous, only the upper half dehiscent with 2 valves which at the top bear a half of the longitudinally split style and stigma. Seed depressed-ovoid; its wing elliptic-ovate, ca. 2 times longer than body of seed, thin, raphe running in lateral wing margin". Palmer & Punam (1972): "Fruit light, flattish capsule containing many tiny seeds, pea-sized, slightly beaked, clearly marked into the usual two divisions, light brown, much veined or ribbed, the tips splitting opne slightly to release a number of flat, thin, oval, shiny seeds, wind dispersed".

References

Literature specific to this family: Beusekom-Osinga, R.J. van & C.F. van Beusekom. 1975. Delimation and subdivisions of the Crypteroniaceae (Myrtales). Blumea 22:255–266; Palmer, E. & N. Pitman. 1972b. Trees of Southern Africa, vol 3. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town; Oliver, D., ed. 1895. Icon. pl. 24: pl. 2348.

General references: 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.