Sapindaceae

Glenniea Hook.f.

First published in G.Bentham & J.D.Hooker, Gen. Pl. 1: 404 (1862)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical Africa, Madagascar, Tropical Asia.

Descriptions

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution
An Old World genus of eight species with a single species, Glenniea thorelii (Pierre) Leenh., widespread in South-East Asia reaching New Guinea, though known only from a few collections.
Morphology General Habit
Trees to 17 m
Morphology General Indumentum
Indumentum of small, stellate tufts of hairs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves spirally arranged or (sub)decussate, unifoliolate or paripinnate and 1–2 jugate, leaflets (sub)opposite, ovate to elliptic, glabrous or sometimes with tufts of hairs in the vein axils; base symmetrical or slightly oblique, margin (sub)entire
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences terminal and usually in the upper leaf-axils, thyrsoid or paniculate, sparsely hairy, cymules either few-flowered or solitary flowered
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers unisexual, plants monoecious or dioecious; sepals 4 or 5, connate at the base; petals absent (in Malesian species); stamens 6 or 7 (in Malesia), exserted, glabrous; ovary 2-locular, ovules 1 per locule, style short with 2-lobes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruits 2-lobed or often with 1 lobe suppressed then ovoid, indehiscent, smooth and glabrous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds with no arillode.
Ecology
Glenniea thorelii has been recorded from primary forest on alluvial plains and also coral limestone; at sea level to 200 m elevation.
Recognition
The species can be recognised by the combination of the stellate, tufted indumentum, the paripinnate leaves with only 1 to 2 pairs of leaflets, sparsely hair inflorescences, flowers with 4 or 5 free sepals, lacking petals and with 6 or 7 glabrous stamens, the fruit shorter than 2 cm long. Note, stellate tufts of hairs are only found in Dimocarpus, Glenniea and Harpullia.
[TONG]

Sapindaceae, Davies & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1998

Morphology General Habit
Trees or shrubs or occasionally scandent, monoecious or dioecious
Morphology Leaves
Leaves simple or pinnate; leaflets in 1–6 pairs
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences terminal and in upper leaf axils, thyrsoid or paniculate with few spreading branches
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers regular; sepals 4–5, ± free; petals 5 or lacking; disk entire, broad, lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4–8
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 2–3-lobed; ovules 1 per locule; style 2–3-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit of 1–3 mericarps
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds without arils.
[FTEA]

Sapindaceae, A. W. Exell. Flora Zambesiaca 2:2. 1966

Morphology General Habit
Trees.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves paripinnate, shortly petiolate; leaflets 2–3-jugate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a terminal or axillary paniculate thyrse.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers spuriously polygamous, actinomorphic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 3(4)-5, reflexed in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 0.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk crenate-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 6–8.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 2-locular; loculi 1-ovulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit baccate, laterally compressed, apically emarginate and divaricately 2-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed without arillode.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0