Xerocladia

Taxonomy

Xerocladia W.H. Harvey In W. H. Harvey et Sonder, Fl. Cap. 2: 278. 16–31 Oct 1862.

Subfamily: Mimosoideae.
Phylogenetic Number: 2.3.17.
Tribe: Mimoseae.
Group: Prosopis.
Species Studied - Species in Genus: 1 studied; 1 in genus.

Description

Fruit: A legumelegume:
usually dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along two longitudinal sutures
; unilocular; 1.4–2 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide; 0.4–0.7 cm thick; length less than twice as long as width; with deciduous androecial sheath; with deciduous corolla; with deciduous calyx; without orifice formed by curving of fruit or fruit segments; curved to 0.5-coiled; not plicate; not twisted; asymmetrical; with 1 straight and 1 curved suture; widest near middle or D-shaped; not inflated; compressed; without beak; rounded at apex to short tapered at apex; right-angled with longitudinal axis of fruit; rounded at base and emarginate at base; aligned with longitudinal axis of fruit; with the apex and base uniform in texture; coriaceous; seed chambers externally invisible; margin not constricted; margin without sulcus; margin embellished; margin with wing(s); wing(s) present; wing(s) 1; wing(s) up to 4 mm wide; wing(s) sutural; wing(s) on 1 suture (on dorsal suture); nonstipitate; indehiscent (dorsal suture arched, bearing prominent spongy tubercle-like structure at base of each face (seed not completely under structure), remaining attached to sutures). Replum invisible. Epicarp glossy; monochrome; shade of brown to purplish brown; with surface texture uniform; minutely pubescent and indurate; with hairs erect; with simple hairs; eglandular; without spines; not smooth; with elevated features; veined; reticulately veined; tuberculate; with spongy tubercles on each valve (at base); tuberculate; not exfoliating; without cracks; without embedded tissue, much thicker than epicarp, running from base to apex. Mesocarp absent. Endocarp present; visible; dull; opaque; monochrome; brown to tan; smooth; without adhering pieces of testa; nonseptate; not exfoliating; entire. Seed(s) 1; length transverse to fruit length; neither overlapping nor touching; in 1 series. Funiculus 3 mm long; of 1 length only; filiform; hooked to S-curved. Aril absent.

Seed: 6.5–7 mm long; 4.5–5 mm wide; 2 mm thick; not overgrown; not angular; symmetrical; ovate; compressed; with surface smooth; 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; glossy; not modified by a bloom; colored; monochrome; brown; glabrous; smooth; coriaceous. Pleurogram present; 50 %. 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; apical at apex of radicle tip; flush; not within corona, halo, or rim. Lens discernible; 0.3 mm long; with margins curved; circular; not in groove of raphe; mounded; dissimilar color from testa; lighter than testa; yellow; not within corona, halo, or rim. Endosperm absent. Cotyledons smooth; both outer faces flat; 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; 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; deflexed and parallel to cotyledon length; centered between cotyledons; less than 1/2 length of cotyledons. Plumule rudimentary; glabrous.

Distribution

Namibia and Namaqualand.

Old World; Africa (Namibia and Namaqualand).

Generic Notes

More seeds and fruits should be collected and distributed to herbaria.