Xeronemataceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Xeronemataceae M. W. Chase et al.

Synonym(s): [none]

Common name(s): xeronema family

*Number of genera/species: 1/2

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

seed

Description

Fruit dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit)
, loculicidalloculicidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally through the locules (compare septicidal)
capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
(separating only at the apexapex:
the point farthest from the point of attachment, or the "tip" of an organ
), 9-11 mm long (includes gynophoregynophore:
stalk-like basal portion of the ovary, bearing the main body of the pistil at its summit
), trigonoustrigonous:
3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline
, angledangled:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles  
or tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
in transectiontransection:
a cross section; representing a plane made by cutting across an organ at a right angle to its length
, with stylar remnantsstylar remnants:
remnant of a style
, perianthperianth:
collective term for calyx and corolla of a flower
persistent,10–25 seeded. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
brown, indurateindurate:
texture—hardened or stony; yielding under strong pressure; not deformable without internal structural disruption
.

Seed ovoidovoid:
3D shape—ovate
, 1.6 mm long. Seed coat black, encrusted with phytomelanphytomelan:
carbonaceous, opaque material that usually covers the seed coat to give it a black appearance, common in certain monocot families
, spinyspiny:
having slender, stiff, sharp projections oriented in the general plane of the structure
, reticulatereticulate:
surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces
, or papillatepapillate:
surface relief—bearing minute, distinct, broad-based projections, tapering to a rounded apex
.

Embryo linearlinear:
(shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
, cylindriccylindric:
3D shape—a cylinder, with parallel sides and a circular cross-section; tubular or rod-shaped
, straight.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	capsulecapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
Size range	9–11 mm long
Shape(s)	trigonoustrigonous: 3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline
Texture	indurateindurate: texture—hardened or stony; yielding under strong pressure; not deformable without internal structural disruption
Surface relief	unknown
Color(s)	brown
Unique features	Trigonous, indurateindurate: texture—hardened or stony; yielding under strong pressure; not deformable without internal structural disruption , loculicidalloculicidal: type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally through the locules (compare septicidal) capsulescapsules: a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels with gynophores.
Seed
Size range	1.6 mm long
Shape(s)	ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate
Surface relief	spiny, papillatepapillate: surface relief—bearing minute, distinct, broad-based projections, tapering to a rounded apex , reticulate
Color(s)	black
Unique features	Phytomelan phytomelan: carbonaceous, opaque material that usually covers the seed coat to give it a black appearance, common in certain monocot families encrusted, black spinyspiny: having slender, stiff, sharp projections oriented in the general plane of the structure , papillatepapillate: surface relief—bearing minute, distinct, broad-based projections, tapering to a rounded apex , or reticulatereticulate: surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces seeds.
Other
Embryo	linear, cylindriccylindric: 3D shape—a cylinder, with parallel sides and a circular cross-section; tubular or rod-shaped , straight

Distribution

New Caledonia, New Zealand.

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; 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.; 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.

*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.