Source:
SSA
Synonym(s):
Ctenomeria Harv.: 29 (1842).
Description:
Herbs, twining; with stinging hairs; monoecious. Leaves alternate, petiolate, cordate, usually lobed. Inflorescence a raceme, terminal or leaf-opposed, with many male flowers above and 1 or 2 basal female flowers. Petals 0. Disc 0. Male flowers: calyx herbaceous, with 5 valvate lobes; stamens 2-5(-50) on hemispherical receptacle; filaments free; anthers linear, minutely apiculate; pistil 0. Female flowers: calyx 6-partite; segments pectinately lobulate on each side, setose; ovary 3-locular, with a single ovule in each locule, setose; styles 3, free or connate below, densely papillose. Fruit a 3-coccous capsule, with cocci 2-valved. Seeds globose, ecarunculate; albumen fleshy; cotyledons broad, flat. x = 12 (aneuploids, high polyploidy).
Distribution:
Species +/- 125, cosmopolitan in warm areas; 14 in sthn Afr., widespread. Ctenomeria Harv., with more than 30 stamens, may be recognised as a separate genus.
Classification:
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