Duparquetia

Taxonomy

Duparquetia H.E. Baillon Adansonia 6: 189. t. 4. 7 Oct 1865.

Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae.
Phylogenetic Number: 1.2.15.
Tribe: Cassieae.
Subtribe: Duparquetiinae.
Species Studied - Species in Genus: 1 studied; 1 in genus.

Description

Fruit: A legume; unilocular; 10–15 cm long; 1–1.7 cm wide; 0.6–1.2 cm thick; 2–9 times longer than wide; with deciduous androecial sheath; with deciduous corolla; with deciduous calyx; without orifice formed by curving of fruit or fruit segments; straight; not plicate; not twisted; asymmetrical; oblong; not inflated; compressed; without beak; long tapered at apex; aligned with longitudinal axis of fruit; long tapered at base; aligned with longitudinal axis of fruit; with the apex and base uniform in texture; ligneous; seed chambers externally invisible; margin not constricted; margin without sulcus; margin embellished; margin with wing(s); wing(s) present; wing(s) 4; wing(s) 1–2 mm wide; wing(s) valvular; wing(s) on both valves (2 on each valve, 1 close to each suture); nonstipitate; with all layers dehiscing; splitting along suture(s). Dehiscence of valves along both sutures; apical and down; active; with valves twisting ("spirally"). Replum invisible. Epicarp glossy; multicolored; streaked, or mottled; dark brown; with brown overlay; with surface texture uniform; glabrous; eglandular; without spines; smooth; not veined; not tuberculate; not exfoliating; without cracks; without embedded tissue, much thicker than epicarp, running from base to apex. Mesocarp present; surface not veined; 2-layered; without balsamic vesicles; with fibers; without reniform canals; with fibers longitudinally over solid layer; ligneous. Endocarp present; visible; dull; opaque; monochrome; brown; with thick layer of hairs cobwebby; without adhering pieces of testa; nonseptate; not exfoliating; remaining fused to mesocarp and epicarp; entire. Seed(s) 2–4; length parallel with fruit length; neither overlapping nor touching; in 1 series. Funiculus 0.1–3 mm long (and to 12 mm wide); of 1 length only; thick; triangular. Aril absent.

Seed: 12–20 mm long; 10–15 mm wide; 8–10 mm thick; not overgrown; not angular; symmetrical; oblong; terete; with surface smooth; without visible radicle and cotyledon lobes; without hilar sinus; without umbo on seed faces; without medial ridge on each face. Cuticle not exfoliating; not inflated; not wrinkled. Testa present; without pieces of adhering epicarp; not adhering to endocarp; free from endocarp; 2-layered, the inner layer dull brown and soft; the outer layer glossy; not modified by a bloom; colored; monochrome; dark brown; glabrous; not smooth; with elevated features and recessed features; faintly rugose; minutely pitted with small separate pits; osseous. Pleurogram absent. Pseudopleurogram absent. Fracture lines absent. Rim absent. Wing(s) absent. Raphe visible (with conspicous ochre or brown). Hilum present; fully concealed; concealed by funicular remnant (as "whitish funicular residue"); without faboid split; larger than punctiform; 0.8–1 mm long; with curved outline; elliptic to circular; marginal according to radicle tip; recessed; not within corona, halo, or rim. Lens not discernible. Endosperm absent. Cotyledons smooth; both outer faces convex; both the same thickness; both more or less of equal length; not folded; margin entire 180 degrees from base of radicle; similar at apex; completely concealing radicle; entire over radicle; with the interface division terminating at base of radicle; without margins recessed; inner face flat; glabrous on inner face. Embryonic axis oblique; oblique to length of seed; without a joint evident between the radicle and the cotyledons. Radicle differentiated from cotyledon; centered between cotyledons. Plumule rudimentary; glabrous.

Distribution

Liberia to lower Congo River basin.

Old World; Africa (Liberia to lower Congo River basin).

Generic Notes

The "Eye lashes" along the fruit margins occur where seeds are located and appear to expedite (lubricate) seed explusion.