Sapindaceae
Rosidae: Sapindales. The Sapindaceae are mostly trees and shrubs, and
tendril-bearing vines comprising about 140 genera and 1,500 species. The leaves are
alternate, simple, or more commonly pinnately compound; stipules are absent except in the
climbing forms. The flowers are small, actinomorphic or zygomorphic, and commonly
functionally unisexual, although a given individual may bear seemingly bisexual flowers
together with either male or female flowers. The perianth typically is biseriate,
consisting of calyx and corolla. The calyx comprises 4 or 5 distinct or sometimes basally
connate sepals. The corolla consists of 4 or 5 distinct petals or sometimes is absent. The
petals commonly have basal appendages on the inner side. The stamens are distinct, often
have hairy filaments, and in quantity usually are equal to or twice the number of calyx
lobes. The gynoecium consists of a single compound pistil of usually 3 carpels, commonly
an equal number of styles or style lobes, and a superior ovary usually with 3 locules,
each containing 1 or 2 axile or axile-apical ovules. Most species have an extrastaminal,
often asymmetrical nectary disk situated between the stamens and corolla. The fruit is
variable.
Each "thumbnail" image below is linked to a larger photograph.
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Cupaniopsis sp. The lower flower is functionally female,
although the flower looks bisexual. Though not obvious here, the 5-carpellate gynoecium in
this species is exceptional in the family. The two upper flowers are functionally male and
show no evidence of a pistil. |
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Harpullia pendula, tulipwood tree. Note the pinnately compound
leaves. This species has 2-lobed fruits. A functionally female flower is pictured at the
upper right. Note the poorly developed stamens and the conspicuous pistil. In the lower
photo are functionally male flowers with well developed stamens and no apparent pistil. |
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Koelreuteria formosana, golden-rain tree. The lower flower is
functionally male. Note the hairy filaments. Above and to the left, 3 developing pistils
representing 3 female flowers are visible. In the lower one, a portion of the glistening,
yellowish nectary disk can be seen. |
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Dodonaea viscosa, 'a'ali'i. The female flowers of this native
Hawaiian species lack a corolla. Note the 2- or 3-lobed ovary and style. The number of
carpels varies from 2 to 4 in this species. The male flowers on the right have
about 8 stamens. |
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Majidea zanquebarica. Though fruit types vary in the family,
this capsular form is a good representative. Note the three carpels with one seed attached
to each. |
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Litchi chinensis, lychee. This is a common yard tree in
Honolulu, grown for the popular edible fruits. Note the small whitish flowers. The
part of the fruit that is eaten is the whitish pulp visible around the brown seed in the
sectioned fruit near the top of the photo on the right. The pulpy part is technically an
aril, or outgrowth from the funiculus or seed stalk. Seeds in this family are commonly
arillate. |
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Serjanea exarata, mountain supplejack. This is a vine with
pinnately compound leaves, tendrils, small white flowers, and 3-winged fruits. |
Flowering Plant Family Access Page
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