Berchemia Neck. ex DC.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs, unarmed.Leaves (in African species) opposite or subopposite, entire, penninerved; stipules intrapetiolar

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers (in African species) in axillary clusters or solitary, bisexual, 5-merous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle flat

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary superior but sometimes partially enveloped by the disk, 2-celled; style short, 2-lobed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit an elongate drupe with a single 2-celled and 2-seeded stone.

Distribution

Genus of 38 species, one in North America, two in Africa, and the rest in southern Asia.

Rhamnaceae, Marshall C. Johnston (University of Texas Herbarium). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1972

Morphology General Habit

Unarmed trees or shrubs (or scandent shrubs or lianes or twining vines but not in Africa)

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite or subopposite (or alternate but not in Africa), petiolate; blades entire, penninerved, the secondary nerves oftendescribing numerous close parallel arcs

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules present, intra-axillary (or free but not in Africa)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes often reduced to axillary fascicles (or in most species, but not the African ones, aggregated into raceme-like thyrses and the thyrses in turn aggregated into pyramidal panicles)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual, 5-merous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary superior though in some species closely invested by the disk, 2-celled; style short and usually quickly deciduous after anthesis

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Drupe elongate, usually 2–3 times as long as thick, with a single elongate 2-celled, usually 2-seeded, stone.