Lythraceae

Pemphis J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

First published in Char. Gen. Pl.: 67 (1776)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Somalia to Mozambique and Pacific.

Descriptions

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution
A small genus of two species, one of which, Pemphis acidula J.R.Forst., occurs in New Guinea.
Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or small trees to 10 m
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite, decussate, petiolate, coriaceous, elliptic to obovate, 1–3 cm long, apex rounded, base cuneate, petioles and young branchlets pubescent, venation inconspicuous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary, of solitary or paired flowers
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 6-merous; calyx with 6 inner and 6 outer lobes (appearing as 'epicalyx' lobes in dry material), persistent in fruit; petals shortly clawed, white; stamens 12–18; ovary 1-locular with many ovules, placentation axile, style shorter than the petals, stigma capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit indehiscent, enclosed by the hypanthium. Seeds many
Ecology
Pemphis is very tolerant of salt spray and is found on shorelines, especially on exposed coral and limestone substrates and is sometimes found on the landward side of mangroves.
Recognition
The genus can be distinguished by its small leaves clustered at ends of the branches, the many small leaf scars sticking out from the branchlets and the indehiscent fruit enclosed by the hypanthium.
[TONG]

Lythraceae, A. Fernandes. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Shrublets, shrubs or small trees, silky-pilose, with the young branches sub-angular, the older ones terete.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves decussate, oblong-lanceolate, entire.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers axillary, solitary, rarely geminate, pedicellate, the pedicels 2-bracteolate at the base, the bracteoles very soon caducous. Flowers 6-merous, regular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx turbinate-campanulate, coriaceous, with the lobes widely 3-angular and the appendages ± short, horn-shaped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 6, obovate, corrugated.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 12–18, 2- or 1-seriately inserted a little below the middle of the calyx-tube, subequal or alternately unequal; filaments filiform; anthers broadly elliptic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary globose, shortly stipitate, 3-locular; style short or elongate; stigma 2-lobed; ovules numerous, erect.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule subglobose, ± enclosed in the calyx-tube, becoming almost 1 -locular, dehiscing by a transverse slit at the middle (circumscissile).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds numerous, erect, imbricate, obcuneate, winged, the wing thickened.
[FZ]

Lythraceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1984

Morphology General Habit
Shrublets, shrubs or small trees with silvery-silky indumentum
Morphology Leaves
Leaves ± fleshy, almost sessile, narrowed to the base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 6-merous, regular, solitary or rarely paired in the upper axils; pedicels with 2 very deciduous basal bracteoles
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx turbinate-campanulate, ± coriaceous, 12-ribbed; lobes broadly triangular, alternating with short horn-like appendages
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals obovate, corrugated
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 12, inserted a little below the middle of the calyx-tube, ± equal or longer and shorter alternating
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary subsessile, globose, 3-locular; style short or elongate, stigma 2-lobed; ovules numerous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule subglobose, ± included in the corolla-tube, ultimately almost 1-locular, circumscissile
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds numerous, erect, imbricate, obcuneate with thickened wing.
[FTEA]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Shrub or tree, most parts silky pilose
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence usually a solitary axillary flower
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 6-merous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Hypanthium
Hypanthium longer than sepals; sinus-horns present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals present
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 12–18, alternately long and short
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary short-stalked, globose, 3-celled; style long or short, stigma 2-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule ± circumscissile
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds many, winged.
Distribution
One to two species, the other supposedly restricted to SW Madagascar.
[FSOM]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0