Melianthaceae

Melianthus comosus, zygomorphe flowers

The honey shrub plants ( Melianthaceae ) are a family of plants within the order of cranesbill -like ( Geraniales ). The types are located exclusively in the tropical to subtropical Africa.

  • 5.1 Notes and references

Description

Vegetative characteristics

There are mostly small trees, rarely shrubs or perennial herbaceous plants. The alternate, stalked leaves are simple or pinnate. The leaf edges are sawn or unperforated. The stomata are anomocytisch. In Greyia the leaf sheaths are adherent to the branch. The two large, serrated stipules per leaf are often overgrown.

Generative features

In terminal, racemose inflorescences, the flowers are borne. In Bersama and Melianthus flowers are resupinat by rotating the flower stalk. The relatively large, mostly hermaphrodite flowers are more or less strongly zygomorphic, fünfzählig with double perianth. The five sepals are all free of one another or two of them have grown together; it may be present at the base at Melianthus an appendage or spur. There are four or five ( or six ) free, nailed petals present. It's just a circle with four or five fertile stamens (rarely two circles with a total of eight to ten stamens) available; they are not fused with the petals, but can be mutually fused at their base. The three-cell pollen grains have three apertures and are colporat. The nectar production takes place in a discussion with individual or related nectar glands. The most four or five (three to seven) carpels are fused to a constant upper, four-to fünfkammerigen ovary. In Bersama only a anatrope, bitegmische, crassinucellate ovule is present per ovary chamber at Melianthus there are two to five per ovary chamber; they are hanging up horizontally. In a deepening of the ovary is a stylus. Greyia and many Melianthus species are pollinated by birds.

Are formed lokulizidale capsule fruits with papery or woody wall. They open at maturity only at their peak. The most oleaginous seeds contain a lot of endosperm, with or without starch. The small, containing chlorophyll, straight embryo is well developed.

Ingredients and chromosome numbers

There are calcium oxalate crystals present. It may be present strength. There is quercetin and ellagic acid present.

The chromosome number is n = 18 or 19

System

In the family Melianthaceae only three genera were conducted with approximately eleven to fifteen types:

  • . Bersama Fresen, with two to four types: Bersama abyssinica Fresen. ; Home: South Africa
  • Bersama engleriana Gürke ( subsp as subspecies paullinioides ( Planch. ) Verdc = subsp engleriana provided to B. abyssinica ( Gürke ) F. White. .. ); Home: Mozambique, Zimbabwe
  • Bersama swynnertonii Baker f; Home: South Africa
  • Bersama usambarica Gürke
  • Bottle brushes ( Greyia Hook & Harv. . ), With some authors own family Greyiaceae Hutch, with three species.: Greyia flanaganii bolus; Home: South Africa
  • Transvaal bottle brush ( Greyia radlkoferi Szyszyl. ); Home: East of South Africa
  • Greyia sutherlandii Hook. & Harv. ; Home: East of South Africa
  • Honey shrubs ( Melianthus L. ), species (selection): Melianthus comosus Vahl ( Syn: Melianthus minor L. )
  • Melianthus elongatus Wijnands ( Syn: Melianthus minor auct. )
  • Melianthus major L.

After APG III there are the taxa of the former family Francoaceae added:

  • Francoa Cav. With the single type (sometimes two to three types specified): Francoa sonchifolia ( Willd.) Cav. ( Syn: Panke sonchifolia Willd. ): It is rich in form and grows in the mountains of central Chile. You will Gänsedistelblättrige Francoa or rarely bridal wreath and called occasionally used as an ornamental plant.
  • Tetilla hydrocotylifolia DC:. Thrives in southern Chile.

Use

Not much is known about the use by humans. The flowers of Melianthus minor and major Melianthus are collected and eaten due to their high content of nectar. The medical effect of major Melianthus were examined. From the flowers of major Melianthus a dye is obtained.

A few species are used as ornamental plants.

Pictures

Melianthus major:

Inflorescence

Section of the inflorescence and flower

Greyia radlkoferi:

Branch with inflorescence and leaves

Inflorescence

Swell

  • Family and the family of the Melianthaceae Francoaceae in APWebsite. (Section Description and systematics)
  • The family of Melianthaceae and the family of Francoaceae at DELTA by L. Watson & MJ Dallwitz. ( Description section )
  • Keith Coates Palgrave: Trees of southern Africa. 5th edition. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, 1988, ISBN 0-86977-081-0.
Jan Svatopluk Presl Ovary (botany) Agricultural Research Service Angiosperm Phylogeny Group
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