Dirachma

Dirachma is the only plant genus of the family of Dirachmaceae. Of the only two species, the one in Somalia and the other is endemic to Sokrota.

• 3.1 Notes and references

Description

Vegetative characteristics

The Dirachma species grow as deciduous shrubs with long and short shoots.

On the short shoots, the leaves are alternate along. The small leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The simple, flat leaf blade is pinnately cut and strong. The stomata are anomocytisch or cyclocytisch. The stipules are converted into thorns.

Generative features

At each branch end only one pendant flower is formed. The four bracts form a side cup. The hermaphrodite flowers are usually achtzählig double perianth ( perianth ). There are eight sepals and petals present. There is only one stamen circle exists; since the outer circle is missing, are the among themselves free, fertile stamens, in equally large number (eight), opposite the petals with which they are not fused. The dust bag is relatively large. The pollen grains have three apertures and are colporat. It's a free hypanthium ( = flower cups or mugs axis ) available. The eight carpels are fused to a constant above, achtkammerigen ovary. The ovary chamber only a anatrope ovule is present. The style ends in eight scars.

The gap fruit decays into eight sub- fruits. The seed coat ( testa) is smooth.

Distribution and systematics

The two species are endemic Dirachma: Dirachma somalensis DALink in central Somalia and Dirachma socotrana Schweinf. ex Balf. f on the island of Socotra ( between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula ).

The Dirachmaceae family in 1959 by John Hutchinson in The Families of Flowering Plants. I. Dicotyledons, Second Edition, p 248 positioned. Previously she held the rank of a subfamily within the family Geraniaceae Dirachmoideae. The first description of the genus Dirachma in 1884 by Georg August Schweinfurth Isaac Bayley Balfour in: Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 12, pp. 403, with the type species Dirachma socotrana Schweinf. ex Balf. f.

Swell

• The Dirachmaceae in APWebsite family. (Section Description and systematics)
• The Dirachmaceae at DELTA family. ( Description section )