Combretaceae

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Read about Combretaceae in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Combretaceae (from the genus Combretum, a name given to this plant by Pliny). Combretum Family. Fig. 43. Trees or shrubs, erect or climbing: leaves alternate or opposite, simple or coriaceous: flowers bisexual or unisexual, regular, usually perigynous; receptacle enveloping the ovary and often projecting into a slender tube; sepals 4-5, valvate, connate; petals 4-5, or 0; stamens 4-5, alternating with the petals, or twice or thrice as many; ovary 1-celled, inferior, 2—4-ovuled: fruit a drupe, or dry and winged, rarely dehiscent. In this family are 15 genera and about 280 species, mostly confined to the tropics of both hemispheres. The family is related to the Cornaceae and the Rhizophoraceae, as well as more distantly to the Onagraceae. The trees are valuable for their hard, close wood; the tannin-containing bark and galls are used locally for tanning leather. The seeds known as myrobalans (Terminalia Chebula and T. Catappa) are much eaten in India. A useful oil is obtained from these seeds. Black and yellow dyes are furnished by several species. Four to 6 genera are in cultivation in the Southern States and the West Indies. Terminalia Catappa (tropical almond, myrobalan) is grown for nuts and shade. Poivrea is a red-flowered shrub grown in southern Florida. One species of Combretum is a warmhouse climbing shrub. Quisqualis, or rangoon creeper, is a peculiar climbing shrub grown in the warmhouse. It is at first erect, later climbing. CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

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