Cynophalla

(de Candolle) J. Presl in F. Berchtold and J. S. Presl

in F. Berchtold and J. S. Presl, Prir. Rostlin 2: 275. 1825.

Common names: Caper-tree
Etymology: Greek kynos, dog, and phallos, penis, alluding to brilliant red color inside rupturing fruits, which reminded early botanists of a dog’s penis
Basionym: Capparis sect. Cynophalla de Candolle in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 249. 1824
Synonyms: Capparis subg. Cynophalla (de Candolle) Eichler
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 7. Treatment on page 196. Mentioned on page 195, 197.
 TaxonIllustrator 
FNA7 P27 Atamisquea emarginata.jpegAtamisquea emarginata
Cynophalla flexuosa
Quadrella incana
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey
Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey

Shrubs [trees or rarely vines], evergreen; usually glabrous, rarely puberulent (trichomes multicellular, tufted, stellate, stellulate, or unbranched). Stems erect. Leaves ± distichous (stipules supra-axillary glands, serially arranged in leaf-axils just distal to petioles on branchlets, increasing in size distally); petiole relatively long or short, nectaries present; blade obovate, oblong, or broadly to narrowly elliptic, margins entire. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, racemes. Flowers: sepals [equal] 2 unequal pairs (distal pair smaller), each often subtending a nectary; stamens [28–] 120–150 [–ca. 250]; filaments inserted on a discoid or conical receptacle (androgynophore); anthers ellipsoid; gynophore slender, elongating in fruit. Capsules [berries] dehiscent [indehiscent], linear-cylindric, ± fleshy. Seeds [1–] 10–30 [–many], usually reniform, arillate, (embryo green). x = 8, 10.

Distribution

se United States, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, n South America

Discussion

Species ca. 20 (1 in the flora).

Cynophalla is a clearcut, unique entity; its species lack the distinctive lepidote indumentum of the vegetative parts that characterizes the other woody caper genus, Quadrella, which also occurs in southern Florida and the Caribbean region. Plants of Cynophalla are usually glabrous; if pubescent, hairs are minute, stellate or simple on branches, inflorescences, or abaxially on new leaves. Some authors would place Cynophalla in the unigeneric subfamily Cynophalloideae. It is a taxonomically difficult group of species, but well-circumscribed by distinctive characteristics, such as a biseriate calyx with distal sepals smaller, and supra-axillary glands (1–3 per axil) on young shoots.

Selected References

None.

... more about "Cynophalla"
ellipsoid +
Gordon C. Tucker +
(de Candolle) J. Presl in F. Berchtold and J. S. Presl +
Capparis sect. Cynophalla +
elongate +
oblong or;broadly narrowly elliptic +
linear-cylindric +
Caper-tree +
incumbent;accumbent +
se United States +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +  and n South America +
Greek kynos, dog, and phallos, penis, alluding to brilliant red color inside rupturing fruits, which reminded early botanists of a dog’s penis +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
zygomorphic +, actinomorphic +  and pedunculate +
rotate;crateriform campanulate or urceolate +
not +  and dehiscent +
elongate +
corymbose +  and racemose +
axillary +  and terminal +
1-carpellate +
distinct +
tricolporate +  and binucleate +
in F. Berchtold and J. S. Presl, Prir. Rostlin +
conical +  and discoid +
green;usually tan;yellowish-brown or brown +
reniform +
persistent +
distinct +
unequal +
puberulent +  and glabrous +
scale-like +
Capparis subg. Cynophalla +
Cynophalla +
Capparaceae +
puberulent +  and glabrous +