Symplocos

Jacquin

Enum. Syst. Pl., 5, 24. 1760 ,.

Common names: Sweetleaf
Etymology: Greek symplokos, connected, twisted, entwined, evidently alluding to connation of stamens and their adnation to petals in type species, S. martinicensis Jacquin
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 330. Mentioned on page 331.

Shrubs or trees, glabrous or hairy (hairs simple, 1-celled, with transverse septa); new vegetative growth from axillary and/or pseudoterminal buds. Branches smooth at maturity, glabrous or white- or rufous-pubescent. Leaves often sweet tasting; blade with marginal teeth usually glandular, apex acute to acuminate, midvein abaxially prominent, adaxially raised, prominent, or impressed [rarely flat]. Flowers fragrant; sepals imbricate; petals imbricate, white or yellow [pink, reddish, or lavender]; filaments glabrous [hairy]; anthers rotund-ovate to spheric. Drupes usually blue, sometimes orange to brown [white], crowned by persistent calyx; endocarp 1[–5]-celled. x = 11.

Distribution

e, s United States, West Indies (Antilles), South America (Argentina, Brazil), Asia (China, India, Japan), Pacific Islands (Fiji), Australia, temperate, tropical, and subtropical areas.

Discussion

Species 318 (2 in the flora).

1 Leaf midveins impressed adaxially, blade margins closely serrate, serrulate, or dentate; inflorescences paniculate, usually internodal; flowers appearing with leaves; corolla lobes

2.5–5 mm; styles 2–4 mm; drupes bright blue to bluish black 1. Symplocos paniculata

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Leaf midveins impressed adaxially, blade margins closely serrate, serrulate, or dentate; inflorescences paniculate, usually internodal; flowers appearing with leaves; corolla lobes 2.5-5 mm; styles 2-4 mm; drupes bright blue to bluish black. Symplocos paniculata
1 Leaf midveins raised to prominent adaxially, blade margins usually obscurely crenulate-serrulate, teeth remote, sometimes nearly entire; inflorescences fasciculate, axillary; flowers appearing before leaves; corolla lobes 6-8 mm; styles 5-6 mm; drupes dark orange to brown. Symplocos tinctoria
... more about "Symplocos"
Frank Almeda +  and Peter W. Fritsch +
Jacquin +
Sweetleaf +
e +, s United States +, West Indies (Antilles) +, South America (Argentina +, Brazil) +, Asia (China +, India +, Japan) +, Pacific Islands (Fiji) +, Australia +, temperate +, tropical +  and and subtropical areas. +
Greek symplokos, connected, twisted, entwined, evidently alluding to connation of stamens and their adnation to petals in type species, S. martinicensis Jacquin +
Enum. Syst. Pl., +
Symplocos +
Symplocaceae +