Ophrypetalum
Ophrypetalum is a genus of plant in the family Annonaceae. It is native to Kenya and Tanzania.[2] It contains a single species, Ophrypetalum odoratum. Ludwig Diels, the German botanist who first formally described the species, named it after the perfumed odor (odōrātus, in Latin)[3] of its flowers. Bioactive molecules isolated from its roots and leaves have been reported to have antifungal activity in tests with Candida albicans.[4]
| Ophrypetalum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Annonaceae |
| Genus: | Ophrypetalum Diels |
| Species: | O. odoratum |
| Binomial name | |
| Ophrypetalum odoratum | |
Description
It is a bush reaching 4 to 5 meters in height. Its branches have lenticels. Its leaves are 2-12 by 1.2-5.5 centimeters and come to a shallow point at their tips. The leaves are green on their upper surface and dull, pale green on their lower surfaces. Its petioles are 5 millimeters long. Each flower is on a hairy pedicel 0.2-2.2 centimeters long. Its flowers have 3 oval-shaped sepals that are 6-9 by 6-9 millimeters. The sepals are smooth on both surfaces and concave . Its 6 petals are arranged in two rows of 3. The outer petals are yellow or brown, with a 3.5-5.5 millimeter long claw at their base and a 3.5-5.5 by 8-10 millimeter blade. The outer petals have delicate hairs on their outer surface and are smooth inside. The inner petals are similarly colored, have a 4-6 by 2.5-3 millimeter claw at their base, and a 4 by 8.5 millimeter blade. The inner petals are very lightly hairy on their outer surface and smooth inside with the exception of a distinctive ridge of brown fleshy bristles at their base. It has numerous stamens that are 0.6-0.8 millimeters long. Its fruit are 5-6.8 by 1.8-2.2 centimeters and have 3 longitudinal ribs. Its seeds are 2.5 by 1.4 centimeters with testa that form wings on either side.[5][6]
Pollen is shed as permanent tetrads.[7]
References
- Eastern Arc Mountains & Coastal Forests CEPF Plant Assessment Project (2009). "Ophrypetalum odoratum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T62588A12592667. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T62588A12592667.en.
- "Ophrypetalum odoratum Diels". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- Stearn, William (2004). Botanical Latin. Portland, Ore. Newton Abbot: Timber Press David & Charles. ISBN 9780881926279.
- Malebo, Hamisi M.; Kihampa, Charles; Mgina, Clarence A.; Sung’hwa, Fortunatus; Waibel, Reiner; Jonker, Stephan A.; Nkunya, Mayunga H. H. (2014). "Antifungal Enantiomeric Styrylpyrones from Sanrafaelia ruffonammari and Ophrypetalum odoratum". Natural Products and Bioprospecting. 4 (2): 129–133. doi:10.1007/s13659-014-0014-6. ISSN 2192-2195. PMC 4004844. PMID 24859289.
- Mildbraed, J. (1936). "Neue und seltene Arten aus Ostafrika (Tanganyika-Territ. Mandat) leg. H. J. Schlieben, XI" [New and rare species from East Africa (Tanganyika Territ. Mandate) leg. H. J. Schlieben, XI]. Notizblatt des Königl. Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin (in Latin and German). 13 (117): 260–303. doi:10.2307/3994972. JSTOR 3994972.
- Verdcourt, B. (1971). "OPHRYPETALUM Diels [family ANNONACEAE]". Global Plants. ITHAKA. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- Walker, James W. (1976). "Evolutionary Significance of the Exine in the Pollen of Primative [sic?] Angiosperms". In Ferguson, I.K.; Muller, J. (eds.). The Evolutionary Significance of the Exine. published for the Linnean Society of London by Academic Press. pp. 251–290. ISBN 0122536509.