Berchemia

Berchemia racemosa

Berchemia is a genus of the family of the buckthorn family ( Rhamnaceae ). It comprises 20 species, mostly in Southeast Asia.

Description

Berchemia are evergreen or deciduous, non-reinforced, erect or climbing shrubs or small trees. The leaves are usually arranged opposite one another.

The flowers are in thyrsi from stalked to sessile, few-flowered umbel -like cymes and. The flower cup is cup-shaped to hemispherical with a meaty, the flower cups completely filling discus. The ovary is upper constant. The fruits are drupes with one stone zweifächrigen core.

Distribution and systematics

The genus was first described in 1825. The Berchemia include about twenty species, one each in New Caledonia and North America, all other species grow in Southeast Asia. Within the buckthorn plants it is classified in the tribe Rhamneae. The types include:

• Berchemia Siebold & Zucc racemosa.
• Berchemia scandens ( Hill ) K. Koch