Mayacaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Mayacaceae K. Kunth

Synonym(s): [none]

Common name(s): mayaca family

*Number of genera/species: 1/6

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

seed

Description

Fruit a loculicidal capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
, sometimes foraminicidalforaminicidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, fruits opening irregularly
, 2–6 mm long, globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to ellipsoidellipsoid:
3D shape—elliptic
, often appearing lumpy, sometimes perianthperianth:
collective term for calyx and corolla of a flower
persistent. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
membranousmembranous:
texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
and pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
.

Seeds globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to ovoidovoid:
3D shape—ovate
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
in transection, 0.75–2.5 mm long, minutely beakedbeak:
a usually firm, terminal appendage, sometimes tapered
beakbeak:
a usually firm, terminal appendage, sometimes tapered
) 0.15–0.4 mm long), which is often misinterpreted as an operculumoperculum:
a dehiscent cap (or lid) of a seed or fruit that opens during germination or dehiscence
. Seed coat black, brown, or red, dulldull:
reflecting only a low proportion of incident light, with no apparent sheen
, thick, usually 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
or reticulatereticulate:
surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces
, ribbedribbed:
surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
, wrinkledwrinkled:
surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out
, or striatestriate:
surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges
.

Embryo rudimentaryrudimentary:
(of embryo) embryo is small and fills less than a quarter of the seed and can be variable in shapes, such as linear, spatulate, or oval
, discoiddiscoid:
3D shape—resembling a disc
, basalbasal:
at or pertaining to the point of attachment; (of embryo) embryo occupies one end of the seed
, capping one end of endosperm at the micropylarmicropyle:
an opening in the integuments of an ovule usually acting as a passage for the pollen tube
end.

Endosperm copious, mealy. 

Habitat and crop association

Aquarium & Pond Plants of the World tool includes descriptions and images, which may be encountered.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	capsulecapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
Size range	2–6 mm long
Shape(s)	globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical , ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic
Texture	membranousmembranous: texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
Surface relief	pubescentpubescent: surface relief—bearing hairs
Unique features	Membranousmembranous: texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough , pubescentpubescent: surface relief—bearing hairs capsulescapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary with few to many seeds. Shape of seeds through thin pericarppericarp: fruit wall or fruit coat may give capsulescapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary a lumpy appearance.
Seed
Size range	0.75–2.5 mm long
Shape(s)	globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate
Surface relief	reticulatereticulate: surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces , ribbedribbed: surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface , wrinkledwrinkled: surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out , striatestriate: surface relief—having fine, parallel lines, grooves or ridges , 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
Color(s)	black, brown, red
Unique features	Small globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical to ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate seeds, minutely beakedbeak: a usually firm, terminal appendage, sometimes tapered (0.15–0.4 mm long), and with thick, 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 seed coats.
Other
Embryo	rudimentaryrudimentary: (of embryo) embryo is small and fills less than a quarter of the seed and can be variable in shapes, such as linear, spatulate, or oval , discoiddiscoid: 3D shape—resembling a disc , basalbasal: at or pertaining to the point of attachment; (of embryo) embryo occupies one end of the seed , capping one end of endosperm at the micropylarmicropyle: an opening in the integuments of an ovule usually acting as a passage for the pollen tube end
Nutritive tissue	endosperm copious, mealymealy: loose, dry, and disintegrating in finely granular pieces like meal or flour

Distribution

Tropical America, one species in Africa.

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.; Davidse et al. 2009–2018Davidse et al. 2009–2018:
Davidse GM, Sousa Sánchez M, Knapp S. and Chiang Cabrera F, eds. 2009–2018. Flora Mesoamericana. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO. Accessed: January–April 2024. URL: http://legacy.tropicos.org/Project/FM; Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+Flora of North America Editorial Committee 1993+:
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico [Online]. 22+ vols. Flora of North America Association, New York and Oxford. Accessed January-March 2024. URL: http://beta.floranorthamerica.org.; 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 2020-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.; Stevenson and Loconte 1995Stevenson and Loconte 1995:
Stevenson DW and Loconte H. 1995. A cladistic analysis of monocot families. In: Rudall PJ, Cribb PJ, Cutler DF, and Humphries CJ, eds. Monocotyledons: Systematics and Evolution. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

*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.