Sphenostemon

Sphenostemon
Sphenostemon comptonii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Paracryphiales
Family: Paracryphiaceae
Genus: Sphenostemon
Baill.
Species

See text

Sphenostemon is a genus of small evergreen trees or shrubs native to New Guinea, Queensland (Australia) and New Caledonia. They have opposite or spiral leaves, and at most small stipules. The small flowers, borne in terminal inflorescences, have free (i.e. unjoined) sepals and petals. The anthers have thick filaments. The fruit, a berry, is fleshy and contains two seeds. The genus is described as "particularly poorly known".

Taxonomy

Sphenostemon was erected in 1875 by Henri Ernest Baillon to accommodate two New Caledonian species he had described, S. balansae and S. pachycladum [sic]. Historically the genus has proven to be difficult to place at family level, with suggested affinities including Aquifoliaceae, Escalloniaceae, Icacinaceae Monimiaceae and Trimeniaceae.: 339–342  In 1952, Dutch botanist Pieter van Royen created the family Sphenostemonaceae and included Sphenostemon as its only genus. This placement remained until 2009, when Sphenostemon was moved to the family Paracryphiaceae, along with Paracryphia and Quintinia, following the APG III system.

Species

As of October 2026, Plants of the World Online accepts the following nine species:

References

  1. ↑ "Sphenostemon Baill., Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Paris i. (1875) 53". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 16 October 2026.
  2. ↑ Stevens, P.F., "Paracryphiaceae", Angiosperm Phylogeny Website, retrieved 2014-09-19
  3. ↑ Baillon, H. (1875). "Sur le nouveau genre Sphenostemon" [On the new genus Sphenostemon]. Bulletin mensuel de la Société linnéenne de Paris (in French). 1 (7): 53–54. Retrieved 17 October 2026.
  4. ↑ Airy Shaw, H.K. (1972). "Validation of the family name Sphenostemonaceae". Kew Bulletin. 27 (2): 325–326. doi:10.2307/4109461.
  5. ↑ Bass, P. (1975). "Vegetative anatomy and the affinities of Aquifoliaceae, Sphenostemon, Phelline, and Oncotheca". Blumea. 22 (3): 311–407. Retrieved 17 October 2026.
  6. ↑ Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2009). "An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 161 (2): 105–121. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x. hdl:10654/18083.
  7. ↑ "Sphenostemon Baill". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 17 October 2026.