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Related Topics:Cochlospermaceae
Cochlospermaceae is a family of 20-25 species distributed among two genera of trees and shrubs. They occur widely throughout the tropical regions of the world, but are curiously absent from Malaysia. Most species in this family are mesophytic or xerophytic, growing primarily in drier climates.
Leaf form and anatomy
Leaves alternate; petiolate; non-sheathing; gland-dotted, or not gland-dotted; aromatic, or without marked odor; simple. Lamina dissected; palmatifid; palmately veined; cross-venulate. Leaves stipulate. Lamina margins serrate. Leaves without a persistent basal meristem. Mucilaginous epidermis often present, minor leaf veins without phloem transfer cells (Cochlospermum).
Stem anatomy
Secretory cavities present (in the cortex and pith); with mucilage. Cortical bundles absent. Medullary bundles absent. Internal phloem absent. Secondary thickening developing from a conventional cambial ring. The secondary phloem stratified into hard (fibrous) and soft (parenchymatous) zones. Xylem with fibre tracheids. Vessels without vestured pits (but with vestured fibre pits). Wood partially storied (VPI), or not storied; parenchyma predominantly apotracheal.
Inflorescence, floral, fruit and seed morphology
Flowers aggregated in inflorescences; in panicles and in racemes. Flowers large; regular to somewhat irregular. Free hypanthium absent.
Perianth
Perianth with distinct calyx and corolla. Calyx 4 or 5-lobed; 1 whorled; polysepalous (multiple distinct sepals); not persistent (deciduous); imbricate. Corolla 4 or 5-lobed; 1 whorled; polypetalous (multiple distinct petals); imbricate, or contorted; yellow.Androecium
Androecium of 15-60 exclusively fertile stamens, maturing centrifugally; free of the perianth. Stamens equal to markedly unequal, free of one another. Anthers dehiscing via pores (these apical, often confluent). Pollen grains 3-aperturate; colporate; 2-celled.Gynoecium
Gynoecium 3–5 carpelled. The pistil 1 or 3 celled. Gynoecium syncarpous, superior. Ovary 1 or 3 locular. Styles 1; attenuate from the ovary; apical. Stigmas 1 (minute). Placentation when unilocular, parietal; when trilocular, axile. Ovules in the single cavity when unilocular, 20–100 or more; when trilocular, 20–50 per locule; anatropous; bitegmic; crassinucellate. Outer integument contributing to the micropyle. Endosperm formation nuclear.Fruits and seeds
Fruit non-fleshy; dehiscent; a capsule. Capsules three to five valvular. Seeds endospermic. Endosperm oily. Embryo straight, or curved, or coiled. Micropyle zigzag.Physiology and biochemistry
Proanthocyanidins present; cyanidin. Flavonols present; kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin. Ellagic acid present (Cochlospermum). Saponins/sapogenins present. Aluminium accumulation not found.
External links
"Cochlospermaceae"