OCHNACEAE
Morphological description
Woody, non-climbing.
Leaves
Leaves spiral, simple, stipulate, glabrous. Leaves usually dentate, veins closely parallel, stipules dissected. Double intramarginal vein (Gomphia).
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flower hermaphroditic, actinomorphic; sepals 5, persistent; petals free, contorted; style excentric.
Fruit
Fruit apocarpous.
Seed
Winged seeds (Schuurmansia).
Different from: Myrsinaceae: dark dots in leaves, no stipules.
Distribution: The family pantropical. In Malesia 8 genera, incl.: - Brackenridgea (Malesia, North Australia, Fiji), trees, lowland (incl. swamp) forest; - Gomphia (paleotropical), shrubs, trees, lowland rain forest; - Schuurmansia (East Malesia), trees, lowland and montane rain forest.
Notes: Ornamentals: Ochna* (p.p.); several indigenous species have ornamental potential.
Literature: A. Kanis, Fl. Males. I, 7 (1971) 97-119
Image in PhytoImages for Ochnaceae
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Ochnaceae 91 - Brackenridgea 64 - Euthemis 64, 86 - Gomphia 33, 65, 66, 86 - Indovethia 34, 67 - Neckia 34, 67, 73 - Ochna 33, 86 - Schuur-mansia 10, 34, 46, 53, 67, 102 - Schuurmansiella 67.
Illustrations: Fig. 122. Gomphia serrata (Gaertn.) Kanis: a. habit; b. details of leaf venation; c. flower; d. petal; e & f. stamens; g. pistil; h. fruit.