Allophylastrum Acev.-Rodr., 2011

Acevedo-Rodriguez, Pedro, 2011, Allophylastrum: a new genus of Sapindaceae from northern South America, PhytoKeys 5, pp. 39-43 : 39

Allophylastrum Acev.-Rodr. gen. nov.

Latin.

A Allophylus flore solitario, apetalo, nectaris cupulato differt

Type.

A. frutescens Acev.-Rodr.

Description.

Small trees or shrubs. Stipules wanting. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate; leaflets serrate. Flowers solitary, axillary or in short racemes, actinomorphic, unisexual with staminate flowers sometimes bearing a rudimentary 2-locular gynoecium; pedicels elongated, non-articulate; calyx 4-merous, sepals of similar length, in two whorls; petals wanting; disc cupular; stamens (5)6, the filaments slightly of unequal length, connate at base, ovary 2-locular, with a single ovule per locule. Fruit of 1-2 basally connate, indehiscent monocarps, with fleshy exocarp, and a semi-woody endocarp; seeds exarillate, with papery testa.

Distribution.

One species, known only from Guyana and Brazil (Roraima).

Discusssion. The new genus is morphologically similar to Allophylus as they share similar shrubby-arboreal habit, and trifoliolate leaves without stipules ( Acevedo-Rodríguez et al. 2011).

Key to Allophylastrum and Allophylus

Etymology.

The name Allophylastrum is proposed to indicate its close resemblance to Allophylus .