Tecomanthe
Content
Description
Small to large lianas, climbing or creeping (in mountain heaths).
Leaves 1-pinnate, 1-7-jugate;
Stamens didynamous, mostly included, 5th rudimentary;
Ovary glabrous, in each of the 2 cells with rows of ovules attached on 2 placentas on the dissepiment;
Capsule linear-terete or flattened, stipitate and beaked, with 2 coriaceous or almost woody, smooth, wide or very narrow boat-shaped valves.
Seeds, orbicular, with fairly large, thin-membranous wings.
Distribution
Ambon present, Aru Is present, Asia-Tropical: Maluku (Maluku present); New Guinea present, Biak present, Bougainville present, Ceram present, East Queensland present, Halmaheira present, Jappen present, Misool present, N. tip of New Zealand present, New Britain present, Solomons present, Ternate present, Three Kings Is present, Trobriands present, Woodlark I present
Species 5,1 in the Three Kings Is. at the N. tip of New Zealand, 1 in East Queensland, the others in Malesia: Moluccas (Ternate, Halmaheira, Ambon, Ceram, Aru Is.), throughout New Guinea (incl. Misool, Biak, Jappen, New Britain and Woodlark I., Trobriands), and Solomons (Bougainville). .
Taxonomy
As I stated before Tecomanthe belongs with Pandorea to a distinct circum-Pacific affinity of lianas, including Campsis in East Asia and North America and Campsidium in Chile, all sharing a similar shape of flower and fruit. The South African genus Podranea is more remote and with its inflated calyx and linear capsules possibly more allied to Tecoma. The four genera can be keyed out as follows: