Cussonia

Leaves of Cussonia spicata

The genus belongs to the family Araliaceae Cussonia ( Araliaceae ). The approximately 20 to 25 species are widespread from tropical southern Africa prior to and on the Mascarene Islands.

  • 4.1 Notes and references

Description

Vegetative characteristics

The Cussonia species are evergreen or deciduous in the dry season, usually little branched trees with plant height 5-15 meters or shrubs. The aboveground plant parts are bare to more or less hairy, depending on the type and age. Some species form on the trunk base from a thickened ( Lignotuber ).

The often ( " umbrella-like " ) " tufts " standing at the ends of the branches or stems leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The petioles are conspicuously long. The often silvery - green, palmately divided leaf blade has serrated leaf margins. ( For these " clusters " is derived the English common name " Cabbage Tree " ( directly translates to " cabbage tree") from. ) The stipules are often very striking.

Inflorescence and flowers

Several piston-like inflorescences stand together at the ends of branches. The bracts are small or rudimentary. The rarely four, usually five short sepals are fused at least almost fully cup-shaped. The hermaphroditic rarely four or five petals generally have a diameter of 4 to 8 mm. The rarely four, usually five petals are yellowish- green. It's just a circle with four rare, usually five stamens present. The discus is fused flat or with the stylus to a conical stylopodium. Usually two carpels are fused into a two-chambered ovary. There are usually two pen available.

Fruit stand, fruit and seeds

The dense in fruit stand together seated at maturity often black - purple drupes are nearly spherical, urn -shaped, obovate or inverted - conical to wedge-shaped and sometimes meaty. The seeds are ovate flattened to something.

Use

Various plant parts are used as a natural medicine. The wood has a korkige structure and was used for brakes of carriages and wagons.

System

The genus Cussonia in 1780 by Carl Peter Thunberg in Nov. Act. Soc. Sci. Ups. , 3, p 210, Plate 12 & 13 installed. A synonym for Cussonia Thunb. is Sphaerodendron Seem .. The generic name honors Cussonia Pierre Cusson ( 1727-1783 ).

There are about 20 to 25 Cussonia species ( selection):

  • Cussonia angolensis ( Seem. ) Hiern
  • Cussonia arenicola Strey
  • Cussonia bancoensis Aubrév. & Pellegr.
  • Cussonia brieyi
  • Cussonia corbisieri De Wild.
  • Cussonia gamtoosensis Strey
  • Cussonia holstii Haerms ex Engl
  • Cussonia jatrophoides Hutch. & E.A.Bruce
  • Cussonia natalensis Sond. ex W.H.Harver
  • Cussonia nicholsonii Strey
  • Cussonia ostinii Chiov.
  • Cussonia paniculata Eckl. & Zeyh.
  • Cussonia sessilis Lebrun
  • Cussonia sphaerocephala Strey
  • Cussonia spicata Thunb.
  • Cussonia thyrsiflora Thunb.
  • Cussonia transvaalensis Reyneke
  • Cussonia zimmermannii Harms
  • Cussonia zuluensis Strey

Swell

  • JFM Cannon: Araliaceae in the flora Zambesiaca, Volume 4, 1978: Cussonia - Online.
  • Entry in the Flora of Zimbabwe. ( Description section )
Asterids Spadix Vestigiality Ovary (botany) Cameroon Agricultural Research Service
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