Osmoxylon
Content
Description
Unarmed, glabrous or tomentose shrubs or trees.
Leaves palmately lobed or simple, rarely digitately compound;
Inflorescence a terminal compound umbel;
Stamens 4-30, filaments thick, anthers oblong, exserted.
Ovary inferior, not articulated with the pedicel, cells 1-many;
Fruit subglobose (ribbed when dry);
Seeds compressed, endosperm smooth or wrinkled.
Distribution
Asia-Temperate: Taiwan (Taiwan present), Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Maluku (Maluku present); New Guinea present; Philippines (Philippines present); Sulawesi (Sulawesi present), Melanesia present, Micronesia present, New Hebrides present
About 50 spp., of which 40 occur in Malesia, extending from Borneo and the Philippines eastwards through Celebes and Moluccas to New Guinea, the remainder lying further north and east in Taiwan, Micronesia, Melanesia and the New Hebrides. .
Notes
The foliage, inflorescence and flowers of this genus are all unique within the family. The base of the petiole often bears a spiral crest, or this may form a simple collar; the blade varies from simple to elaborately compound; the inflorescence is composed of trifid rays, the central branch bearing sterile bacciform flowers; the corolla is tubular.
The central bacciform flowers (pseudo-fruits) are sterile, except in 12. O. yatesti, in which apparently mature seed was once found.
By exception a specimen of 40. O. luzoniense had apparently fertile flowers on the central branches of the inflorescence.
The central bacciform flowers (pseudo-fruits) are sterile, except in 12. O. yatesti, in which apparently mature seed was once found.
By exception a specimen of 40. O. luzoniense had apparently fertile flowers on the central branches of the inflorescence.
Citation
Boerl. 1890 – In: Handl.: 640
Becc. 1878 – In: Malesia: 193
Harms 1900 – In: K. Sch. & Laut., Fl. Schutzgeb.: 484
Harms 1894 – In: E. & P., Nat. Pfl. Fam. 3: 32
Bth. 1865 – In: B. & H., Gen. Pl. 1: 944
Boerl. 1887 – In: Ann. Jard. Bot. Btzg: 123
Philipson 1976 – In: Blumea: 99
Harms 1920 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 377
Hutch. 1967 – In: Gen. Fl. Pl.: 73
Hutch. 1967 – In: Gen. Fl. Pl.: 72
O. K. 1891 – In: Rev. Gen. Pl.: 645
Miq. 1920 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 384