Campynemataceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Campynemataceae Dumort.

Synonym(s): [none]

Common name(s): campynema family

*Number of genera/species: 2/4

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

fruit or seed

Description

Fruit a ventricidal capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
, sometimes indehiscentindehiscent:
not opening on its own, as in a fruit
, 2–6 mm long, obconicalobconical:
3D shape—inversely cone-shaped, with point of attachment at narrow end
or trigonoustrigonous:
3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline
, prominently to obscurely 3-angled in transection, with two or several seeds (Campynemanthe) or many seeds (Campynema), with tepalstepal:
a member of the perianth, when it cannot be differentiated into a calyx and corolla
persistent near apexapex:
the point farthest from the point of attachment, or the "tip" of an organ
. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
membranousmembranous:
texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
, ribbedribbed:
surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
.

Seeds globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to angularangular:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles  
in Campynemanthe with long persistent funiculifuniculus:
(alt. funicle) stalk connecting the ovule (later seed) to the ovary (later fruit) placenta
. Seeds compressedcompressed:
flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally
and nearly discoiddiscoid:
3D shape—resembling a disc
with a spongyspongy:
soft, light, discontinuous but cohesive, and somewhat resilient
seed coat in Campynema. Seeds 1–2 mm long. Seed coat pale red-brown, reticulatereticulate:
surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces
.

Embryo minute.

Endosperm copious.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	ventricidal capsulecapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
Size range	2–6 mm long
Shape(s)	obconicalobconical: 3D shape—inversely cone-shaped, with point of attachment at narrow end , trigonoustrigonous: 3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline
Texture	membranousmembranous: texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
Surface relief	ribbedribbed: surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
Unique features	Small, membranousmembranous: texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough , ribbedribbed: surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface , ventricidal capsulescapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary with persistent tepalstepal: a member of the perianth, when it cannot be differentiated into a calyx and corolla and small seeds with minute embryos.
Seed
Size range	1–2 mm long
Shape(s)	globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical to angularangular: 2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles   or discoiddiscoid: 3D shape—resembling a disc
Surface relief	reticulatereticulate: surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces
Color(s)	pale red-brown
Unique features	Small, globoseglobose: 3D shape—more or less spherical to angularangular: 2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles   seeds with long persistent funiculifuniculus: (alt. funicle) stalk connecting the ovule (later seed) to the ovary (later fruit) placenta . Or, small discoiddiscoid: 3D shape—resembling a disc seeds with spongyspongy: soft, light, discontinuous but cohesive, and somewhat resilient seed coats.
Other
Embryo	minute
Nutritive tissue	endosperm copious

Distribution

New Caledonia (Campynemanthe), Tasmania (Campynema).

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Baskin and Baskin 2021Baskin and Baskin 2021:
Baskin C and Baskin J. 2021. Relationship of the lateral embryo (in grasses) to other monocot embryos: A status up-grade. Seed Science Research 31 (3): 199-210. doi:10.1017/S0960258521000209; Dahlgren and Lu 1985Dahlgren and Lu 1985:
Dahlgren RMT and Lu AM. 1985. Campynemanthe (Campynemaceae): morphology, microsporogenesis, early ovule ontogeny and relationships. Nordic Journal of Botany 5: 321-330.; Dahlgren et al. 1985Dahlgren et al. 1985:
Dahlgren RMT, Clifford HT, and Yeo PF. 1985. The families of the monocotyledons: structure, evolution, and taxonomy. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 520 pp.; Flora of Australia 2021+Flora of Australia 2021+:
Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Accessed January 2021–March 2024. URL: http://www.ausflora.org.au; Kirkbride et al. 2006Kirkbride et al. 2006:
Kirkbride JH, Jr, Gunn CR, and Dallwitz MJ. 2006. Family guide for fruits and seeds, vers. 1.0. Accessed September 2020-January 2022. URL: https://nt.ars-grin.gov/seedsfruits/keys/frsdfam/index.cfm .; Kubitzki et al. 1990+Kubitzki et al. 1990+:
Kubitzki K et al., eds. 1990+. The families and genera of vascular plants. 7+ vols. Berlin etc.; Lowry II et al. 1987Lowry II et al. 1987:
Lowry II PP, Goldblatt P, and Tobe H. 1987. Notes on the Floral Biology, Cytology, and Embryology of Campynemanthe (Liliales: Campynemataceae). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 74: 573-576.; Stevenson and Loconte 1995Stevenson and Loconte 1995:
Stevenson DW and Loconte H. 1995. A cladistic analysis of monocot families. In: Rudall PJ, Cribb PJ, Cutler DF, and Humphries CJ, eds. Monocotyledons: Systematics and Evolution. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.; Watson and Dallwitz 1992+Watson and Dallwitz 1992+:
Watson L and Dallwitz MJ. 1992+. The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 6th Accessed September 2020-September 2022. URL: delta-intkey.com

*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016Christenhusz and Byng 2016:
Christenhusz MJM and Byng JW. 2016. The number of known plant species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa 261 (3): 201-217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.