Combretaceae-Combretum family
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Published : October 15, 2016
| Last modified on July 4th, 2017 at 2:27 pm
The combretum family, combretaceae, consists of 20 genera and 500 species.
Description of the family:
Trees, shrubs, suffrutices or woody climbers. The indumentum of scales and/or hairs is taxonomically distinctive (although microscopic). Leaves simple, opposite, whorled, subopposite or alternate, almost always entire. Stipules 0. Flowers bisexual or bisexual and male in same inflorescence, usually 4-5-merous. Sepals 4 or 5 (rarely 6 or 8). Petals 4 or 5, sometimes 0. Stamens usually twice as many as petals, sometimes equal in number. Ovary inferior, 1-locular. Fruit 2-5-winged, 1-seeded.
Worldwide:
20 genera and 500 species, found in tropics and warm areas, especially Africa.
Zimbabwe:
4 genera and 47 taxa.
- Combretum Loefl.
- Meiostemon Exell & Stace
- Pteleopsis Engl.
- Terminalia L.
