Boryaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Boryaceae M.W. Chase, Rudall & Conran

Synonym(s): [none]

Common name(s): borya family

*Number of genera/species: 2/12

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

seed

Description

Fruit dehiscent, loculicidalloculicidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally through the locules (compare septicidal)
capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
, 2.5–4.5 mm long, ovoidovoid:
3D shape—ovate
or fusiformfusiform:
spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends
, few seeded, enclosed by persistent perianthperianth:
collective term for calyx and corolla of a flower
. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
straw colored, smooth, sometimes with midline groove.

Seed ellipsoidellipsoid:
3D shape—elliptic
to ovoidovoid:
3D shape—ovate
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
or slightly compressedcompressed:
flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally
, 0.8–1.2 mm long. Seed coat black, dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
, encrusted with phytomelanphytomelan:
carbonaceous, opaque material that usually covers the seed coat to give it a black appearance, common in certain monocot families
, smooth or variously ornamented.

Embryo very small, ovoidovoid:
3D shape—ovate
, straight or curvedcurved:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart
. Endospermendosperm:
nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds
copious without starch.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	loculicidal loculicidal: type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally through the locules (compare septicidal) capsule
Size range	2.5–4.5 mm long
Shape(s)	ovoid, fusiform
Surface relief	smooth, sometimes with midline groove
Color(s)	straw-colored
Unique features	Straw-colored ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate or fusiformfusiform: spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends capsulescapsules: a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels with a few minute, black, phytomelanphytomelan: carbonaceous, opaque material that usually covers the seed coat to give it a black appearance, common in certain monocot families encrusted seeds.
Seed
Size range	0.8–1.2 mm long
Shape(s)	ellipsoid, ovoid
Surface relief	smooth, papillatepapillate: surface relief—bearing minute, distinct, broad-based projections, tapering to a rounded apex , striatestriate: surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges , wartywarty: surface relief—distinct, rounded projections that are large relative to the fruit size; tuberculate, verrucose , alveolatealveolate: surface relief—reticulated, honeycombed; ridges that intersect to form polygonal cells with a regular size and shape similar to a honeycomb , colliculatecolliculate: surface relief—covered with small, round projections, similar to blistered , sculptured
Color(s)	black
Unique features	Minute, dulldull: reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen , black seeds with phytomelanphytomelan: carbonaceous, opaque material that usually covers the seed coat to give it a black appearance, common in certain monocot families and very small embryos.
Other
Embryo	ovoid, straight or curved
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 copious without starch

 

Distribution

Australia.

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Baskin and Baskin 2021Baskin and Baskin 2021:
Baskin C and Baskin J. 2021. Relationship of the lateral embryo (in grasses) to other monocot embryos: A status up-grade. Seed Science Research 31 (3): 199-210. doi:10.1017/S0960258521000209; Barrett 2018Barrett 2018:
Barrett MD. 2018. Three new species of Asparagales from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Telopea: Journal of Plant Systematics 21: 25-37.; Dahlgren et al. 1985Dahlgren et al. 1985:
Dahlgren RMT, Clifford HT, and Yeo PF. 1985. The families of the monocotyledons: structure, evolution, and taxonomy. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 520 pp.; Flora of Australia 2021+Flora of Australia 2021+:
Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Accessed January-May 2021. URL: http://www.ausflora.org.au; Kirkbride et al. 2006Kirkbride et al. 2006:
Kirkbride JH, Jr, Gunn CR, and Dallwitz MJ. 2006. Family guide for fruits and seeds, vers. 1.0. Accessed September 2020ndash;January 2022. URL: https://nt.ars-grin.gov/seedsfruits/keys/frsdfam/index.cfm .; Kubitzki et al. 1990+Kubitzki et al. 1990+:
Kubitzki K et al., eds. 1990+. The families and genera of vascular plants. 7+ vols. Berlin etc.; PlantNET 2021; Western Australian Herbarium 1998+Western Australian Herbarium 1998+:
Western Australian Herbarium. 1998+. Florabasemdash;the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Accessed January 2021-May 2021. URL: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/

*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): 201ndash;217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.