Nyctocalos
Content
Description
Lianas, without tendrils.
Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate (in one extra-Mal. sp. 1-pinnate with 5 leaflets).
Inflorescence a short lateral or terminal 8-12-flowered raceme.
Flowers nocturnal, erect, fragrant;
Stamens inserted in the throat 4 with or without a rudiment or 5, equal or 2 anterior ones sometimes longer, not exserted;
Ovary with rows of ovules along the margins of the dissepiment;
Capsule large, flat, stalked and acuminate but with parallel edges, valves with a central prominent rib;
Seeds flimsy winged, roundish.
Distribution
Asia-Temperate: China South-Central (Yunnan present), Asia-Tropical: Assam (Assam present); Borneo present; Jawa (Jawa present); Philippines (Philippines present); Sulawesi (Sulawesi present); Thailand (Thailand present), Burma present, SE. Asia present, West Malesia present
Three spp. in SE. Asia (Assam, Burma, Thailand, Yunnan) and West Malesia (Java, Borneo, Celebes, and the Philippines). .
Taxonomy
The generic name is female, being derived from the Greek nux.
The genus stands isolated in the Old World flora. In many aspects the small New World genus Tanaecium Sw. is very similar, but in this genus at least part of the leaflets carries a terminal tendril; besides its fruit is not flat, but said to be cylindric or quadrangular with convex woody valves. Still I believe it to be an ally in the New World. There is also a similar resemblance with the monotypic South American genus Macranthisiphon BUREAU but that has 2-ranked ovules and a more elongate, funnel-shaped corolla tube.
For a moment I thought that Nyctocalos pinnata STEEN. (from Yunnan, only known in fruit, l.c. 1953, 306) might belong to Hieris, but the very numerous seeds defeat this, as far as H. curtisii is concerned. Hieris is, of course, the most intimate related genus, with the same punctate glands on the leaves and a deceptively similar calyx; its pollen is quite different.
Too much importance has been ascribed to the structure of the androecium: 5 equal stamens to 4 didynamous; this varies as is explained under N. cuspidata. It led SEEMANN (l.c.) even to the inclusion of the Australian Hausmannia jucunda into the genus, which belongs in fact to the Tecomeae with quite different fruit and valvate corolla lobes.
For a moment I thought that Nyctocalos pinnata STEEN. (from Yunnan, only known in fruit, l.c. 1953, 306) might belong to Hieris, but the very numerous seeds defeat this, as far as H. curtisii is concerned. Hieris is, of course, the most intimate related genus, with the same punctate glands on the leaves and a deceptively similar calyx; its pollen is quite different.
Too much importance has been ascribed to the structure of the androecium: 5 equal stamens to 4 didynamous; this varies as is explained under N. cuspidata. It led SEEMANN (l.c.) even to the inclusion of the Australian Hausmannia jucunda into the genus, which belongs in fact to the Tecomeae with quite different fruit and valvate corolla lobes.
Citation
SANTISUK 1973 – In: Kew Bull.: 182
T. & B. 1928 – In: Bull. Jard. Bot. Btzg: 178
Miq. 1864 – In: Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat.: 201
BUREAU 1864: Mon.: 52
Miq. 1867: – Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. 3: 249
SEEM. 1870 – In: J. Bot.: 147
STEEN. 1927: Thesis: 805
T. & B. 1953 – In: Acta Bot. Neerl.: 306
K.SCH. 1894 – In: E. & P., Nat. Pfl. Fam. 4: 219