|
(Last Modified On 4/2/2013)
|
|
|
|
(Last Modified On 4/2/2013)
|
|
Genus
|
Dipholis DC.
|
|
PlaceOfPublication
|
Prodr. 8: 188, 1844.
|
|
Description
|
Trees or shrubs, lacking spines or thorns. Leaves alternate, the blades cori- aceous or subcoriaceous. Flowers small, white or green, numerous or few per axil- lary fascicle, occasionally solitary, the clusters axillary to leaves, leaf-scars or both; sepals (4)5(-9), uniseriate; corolla rotate or funnelform, 5(6)-lobed, each lobe with a pair of lateral appendages arising from the base; staminodes petaloid, these and the appendages of the corolla-lobes often erose, fimbriate or laciniate; anthers often exserted; ovary glabrous or rarely appressed-puberulent, 5-celled, the ovules attached basilaterally. Fruit fleshly; usually 1-seeded at maturity, abruptly tapering to the short, persistent style; seed with a small, virtually basal scar and copious endosperm, the cotyledons thin.
|
|
Habit
|
Trees or shrubs
|
|
Distribution
|
Approximately 15 species; heavily centered in the West Indies (principally the Greater Antilles) but also occurring in Central America, Mexico and southern Florida; one species is known from Panama.
|
|
Note
|
Although Stearn (Jour. Arnold Arb. 49: 282-283, 1968) argues impressively against the recognition of Dipholis as an entity generically distinct from Bumelia, I favor its retention at present. I have found the delimiting characters listed by Cronquist (Jour. Arnold Arb. 26: 445, 1945) to hold up rather well in the species I have examined personally and there can be no doubt of their validity with re- gard to Panamanian representatives.
|
|
Reference
|
Cronquist, A. Studies in the Sapotaceae, III. Dipholis and Bumelia. Jour. Arnold Arb. 26: 435-4711, 1945 (Dipholis p. 435-445).
|
|
Tag
|
|
|
|
Project Name
|
|
Tag
|
|
|
|