Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae.
Phylogenetic Number: 1.4.34.
Tribe: Detarieae.
Group: Crudia.
Species Studied - Species in Genus: 1 studied; 1 in genus.
Fruit: A legume; unilocular; 5–8 cm long; 1–1.8 cm wide; 0.3–0.4 cm thick; 2–9 times longer than wide; with deciduous androecial sheath; with deciduous corolla; with deciduous calyx; without orifice formed by curving of fruit or fruit segments; straight; not plicate; not twisted; asymmetrical; lanceolate; not inflated; flattened; without beak; long tapered at apex; aligned with longitudinal axis of fruit; tapered at base; aligned with longitudinal axis of fruit; with the apex and base uniform in texture; coriaceous; seed chambers externally visible; margin not constricted; margin without sulcus; margin embellished; margin with wing(s); wing(s) present; wing(s) 8 mm wide; wing(s) samaroid; wing(s) basal (wing basal and seed apical); substipitate; with all layers dehiscing; splitting along suture(s). Dehiscence of valves along not sure if this is inapplicable; apical and down; may be inapplicable. Replum invisible. Epicarp dull; monochrome; reddish light brown; with surface texture uniform; glabrous; eglandular; without spines; not smooth; with recessed features; veined; longitudinally veined relative to fruit length; not tuberculate; glandularly punctate; not exfoliating; without cracks; without embedded tissue, much thicker than epicarp, running from base to apex. Mesocarp present; surface not veined; 1-layered; without balsamic vesicles; without fibers; without reniform canals; solid; coriaceous. Endocarp present; visible; dull; opaque; monochrome; reddish brown; without adhering pieces of testa; nonseptate; not exfoliating; remaining fused to mesocarp and epicarp; entire. Seed(s) 1; length parallel with fruit length. Funiculus 0.1–0.5 mm long; of 1 length only; thick; straight. Aril absent.
Seed: 14–22 mm long; 7–10 mm wide; 2–3 mm thick; not overgrown; not angular; symmetrical; oblong; flattened; with surface grooved (2–3 grooves on each face); longitudinal; without visible radicle and cotyledon lobes; without hilar sinus; without umbo on seed faces; without medial ridge on each face. Cuticle not exfoliating; not inflated; not wrinkled. Testa present; without pieces of adhering epicarp; not adhering to endocarp; free from endocarp; dull; not modified by a bloom; colored; monochrome; dirty tan; glabrous; not smooth; with recessed features; osseous. Pleurogram absent. Pseudopleurogram absent. Fracture lines absent. Rim absent. Wing(s) absent. Raphe not visible. Hilum present; fully concealed; concealed by funicular remnant; without faboid split; punctiform; nearly apical at apex of radicle tip; flush; not within corona, halo, or rim. Lens not discernible. Endosperm absent. Cotyledons not smooth; 1–3 grooves on each face; both outer faces convex; both the same thickness; both more or less of equal length; not folded; margin entire 180 degrees from base of radicle; similar at apex; partially concealing radicle; notched at radicle (and lobes); with lobes; with lobes not touching; with the interface division terminating at base of radicle; without margins recessed; inner face flat; glabrous on inner face. Embryonic axis straight; parallel to length of seed; without a joint evident between the radicle and the cotyledons. Radicle differentiated from cotyledon; centered between cotyledons. Plumule rudimentary; glabrous.
During seed dissection, The inner layer of the testa disintegrated into minute shards. Breteler et al. (1997) proposed synonymizing Colophospermum(1.4.36) and Hardwickia. The united genus would have the name Hardwickia, the older generic name, and two species, H. mopane (T. Kirk ex G. Bentham) F.J. Breteler [C. mopane (T. Kirk ex G. Bentham) T. Kirk ex J.J.G. Léonard] from southern Africa and H. binata W. Roxburgh from southern India. They stressed the overwhelming similarity of the two genera with very few differences separating them. Our seed data contradicts their conclusion. We found that the two genera were separated by the following fruit and seed characters: Hardwickia--fruit 1–1.8 cm wide, 2–9 times longer than wide, straight, outline symmetrical, long tapered at apex, tapered at base, seed chambers visible; fruit wing present; epicarp longitudinally veined relative to fruit length; mesocarp without fibers, solid; funiculus thick; seed symmetrical, oblong; testa monochrome, osseous; hilum flush; cotyledons 1–3 grooved on each face, margin entire 180 degrees from base of radicle, with lobes not touching; embryonic axis parallel to length of seed; and Colophospermum--fruit 2–3.2 cm wide, length less than twice as long as width, curved, asymmetrical, tapered at apex, short tapered at base, seed chambers invisible; fruit wing absent; epicarp reticulately veined; mesocarp with fibers present, fibrous throughout; funiculus filiform; seed asymmetrical, reniform; testa bichrome, chartaceous; hilum recessed; cotyledons ruminate, margin not entire 180 degrees from base of radicle, with lobes touching (auriculate); embryonic axis perpendicular to length of seed. Therefore, we have chosen to keep the genera separate pending further study. Smith et al. (1998) proposed conserving the name Colophospermum against Hardwickia which would change the name of the united genus to Colospermum thereby maintaining C. mopane. A decision on the proposal had not yet been announced by the IAPT Nomenclature Committee. Léonard (1999) presented a rebuttal to Breteler et al. (1997) in favor of maintinaing the two genera. In addition to fruit and seed characteristics, he also stressed differences in number of sepals, corolla aestivation, number of stamens, presence or absence of a floral disk, anther texture, and position of style attachment.
Authors: J.H. Kirkbride, Jr., C.R. Gunn, A.L. Weitzman, M.J. Dallwitz, K.R. Thiele
Content last updated April 2003
Released April 2024 on idtools.org
