SYMPLOCACEAE
Morphological description
Woody, non-climbing.
Leaves
Leaves simple, penninerved, exstipulate. Usually spiral or alternate, dentate, becoming yellowish green upon drying, midrib sunken above. Sometimes leaves pseudoverticillate (Symplocos verticillifolia); leaves entire, not turning yellow, filaments forming a long tube (S. henschelii, S. pendula).
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flowers actinomorphic; sepals and petals connate (usually at base only), ovary inferior; ovules pendulous 2-4 per cell. Usually bisexual, stamens numerous; each flower supported by 1 bract and 2 bracteoles. Sometimes filaments forming a long tube (S. henschelii, S. pendula).
Fruit
Fruit a 2-5-celled drupe. Usually endocarp sculptured
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Alangiaceae: petals free, ovule 1 per cell, fruit a berry. — Ebenaceae: leaves entire, ovary superior, fruit a berry. — Rosaceae: stipulate. — Theaceae: placentation axile, fruit a berry or capsule.
Distribution: The only genus, Symplocos, is widespread in the tropics of Indo-Aus-tralia and America. It is well represented in Malesia from sealevel to c. 4000 m, mostly in rain forest.
Notes: Fossil Symplocos has been found in the Eocene of Europe and North America. The leaves of some species are eaten.
Literature: H.P. Nooteboom, Fl. Males. I, 8 (1977) 205-274.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): 45, 46, 52, 55, 71, 84, 93.
Illustrations: Fig. 165. Symplocos celastrifolia Griff. ex Clarke: a. habit; b. flower with bract and bracteoles; c. flower; d. stamen; e. stigma; f. LS of flower; g. CS of fruit; h. LS of fruit.
Image in PhytoImages for Symplocaceae