Lumnitzera

Shrubs or trees, rarely [sometimes] with pneumatophores, these looping upward then downward into substrate. Stems erect, equal; twigs glabrous or sparsely hairy, hairs short, combretaceous. Leaves persistent, alternate and spiral; stipules absent; petiole not differentiated proximally and no part of it persistent, nectar glands absent; blade fleshy-leathery, venation obscure, apex rounded to retuse; with pit-domatia on distal margins and at apex, each containing a basal gland. Inflorescences axillary [terminal], spikes [racemes]; bracteoles present. Flowers somewhat conspicuous, bisexual; hypanthium cylindrical, free portion 1.3–2.5 mm, slightly contracted beyond ovary, slightly conic distally, glabrous abaxially [pubescent]; sepals 5, green, triangular, glabrous [pubescent], margins ciliate, without [with] glands; petals 5, white or cream [yellow, red], ovate to elliptic, 4–5 mm, apex acute to obtuse, glabrous, margins sparsely ciliate; stamens [5–]10, exserted; nectary disc inconspicuous, from proximal portion of hypanthium adaxial surface, glabrous; ovary somewhat flattened; style straight to slightly curved, free from hypanthium; ovules 2–5. Drupes slightly flattened, ovoid, slightly ridged; with 2 major ridges, those subtending bracteoles better developed and expressed proximally, the remaining minor ridges only developed distally; hypanthium and calyx persistent.

Distribution

Introduced; Florida, Asia, e Africa, Indian Ocean Islands (Mada­gascar), w Pacific Islands (Fiji, Tonga), n Australia.

Discussion

Species 2 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Lumnitzera racemosa