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Nectaropetalum Engl. [family ERYTHROXYLACEAE]

Date Updated: 26 July 2007

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 2, Part 1, page 102, (1963) Author: N. K. B. Robson
Names
Nectaropetalum Engl. [family ERYTHROXYLACEAE], Bot. Jahrb. 32: 109 (1902). — Stapf & Boodle in Kew Bull. 1909: 188 (1909). Peglera Bolus [family ERYTHROXYLACEAE], in Kew Bull. 1907: 362 (1907).
Information
Shrubs or small trees. Young shoots terete or ± compressed. Leaves petiolate, alternate, simple, entire, 4: coriaceous, penninerved, with densely reticulate tertiary venation; stipules intrapetiolar, usually completely united, deciduous or caducous. Flowers axillary, solitary or in few-flowered fascicles, heterostylic. Sepals (4) 5, valvate, connate at the base, ± coriaceous. Petals (4) 5, white, free, unguiculate, deciduous; nectary appendage small (more rarely absent). Stamens 5 + 5, with filaments of equal or unequal length united below to form a shallow cup sometimes bearing 5 glands outside. Ovary 2-locular, loculi 1-ovulate; styles united; stigmas 2, free, spreading or reflexed. Fruit probably drupaceous.
Range
A genus of 6 species, 5 in coastal regions from northern Kenya to the Cape and 1 in the Congo.
Notes
Phillips (S. Afr. Journ. Sci. 32: 308 (1935)) decided that Nectaropetalum was not distinct from Erythroxylum; but, although a few species of Erythroxylum have styles partially united, and 1 or 2 are sometimes found with 2-carpellary ovaries, the occurrence of 2-carpellary ovaries together with completely united styles, relatively large petals with short nectary scales (or rarely without these), and a shallow filament cup, is sufficient to distinguish Nectaropetalum. N. lebrunii G. Gilbert, from the Congo, is unusual in having small flowers with large nectary appendages and a deep filament cup, and may have been independently derived from species of Erythroxylum. Pinacopodium (Cabinda and Gaboon) differs from Nectaropetalum in having a pedunculate inflorescence and a very short stylar column.
Nectaropetalum Engl. [family ERYTHROXYLACEAE]
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