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(Last Modified On 4/5/2013)
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(Last Modified On 4/5/2013)
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Family
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GNETACEAE
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Contributor
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THOMAS B. CROAT
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Description
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Glabrous trees or shrubs, but chiefly lianas. Leaves opposite, decussate, simple, estipulate, evergreens, leathery, penninerved. Inflorescences3 branched or simple, dioecious, each segment subtended by 2 opposite, decussate bracts. Flowers min- ute, sessile, arranged in a series of whorls on the stobilus axis, interspersed with numerous moniliform trichomes, the whorls usually subtended by a circular bract or collar, the male spike with the uppermost ring containing usually imperfect female flowers. Male flowers numerous, the perianth tubular, splitting transversely to allow growth of the central stamen; microsporangia 1-2, dehiscing by apical slits. Female flowers 3-8 per whorl with a fleshy outer envelope (perianth) sur- rounding a single orthotropous ovule and -two integuments. Seed drupe-like, pink, red or yellow.
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Habit
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trees or shrubs
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Distribution
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A family of one genus containing 30 species, confined to the tropical and humid regions of the world.
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