Lophopyxidaceae

Abstract

Monoecious climbing shrubs or small trees with watch-spring tendrils; branches with lateral bud at the base; cork superficial. Leaves spiral, simple, serrulate to crenulate, domatiiferous; stipules small, knob-like. Inflorescence a loose axillary panicle with flowers in distant glomerules, the basal bracts often transformed into completely coiled tendrils. Flowers regular, sessile, small, 5-merous; sepals basally connate, valvate, persistent; petals distinct, much smaller than sepals; disk yellowish; staminate flowers: stamens 5(6), antesepalous, with filiform filaments and subglobose, introrse, almost basifixed anthers, alternating with 5(6) antepetalous cordate glands ± adnate to the petals; pollen grains subprolate, 3-colporate, exine reticulate; pistillode subglobose, hairy; pistillate flowers: glands concrescent into a 5(6)-lobed disk with the glands or lobes opposite the ovary cells; gynoecium 5(4)-carpellate, carpels antepetalous; ovary superior, 5(4)-locular, ovoid-oblong, shallowly ribbed; ovules 2 per locule, pendulous, apical-axile, anatropous, epitropous, each surmounted at the micropyle by a small obturator-like appendage originating from the funicle; stylodia 5(4), minute, subulate, stigmatic. Fruit indehiscent, fusiform, 1-locular and 1-seeded, with 5 broad stramineous wings. Seed oblong, albuminous; embryo erect, with oblong cotyledons and a short erect radicle.