Cylicomorpha
| Cylicomorpha | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Caricaceae |
| Genus: | Cylicomorpha Urb., 1901 |
| Species | |
| |
Cylicomorpha is a plant genus consisting of two species that are native to the African tropics. They are the only African representatives of the Caricaceae,[1] and are consequently related to the papaya.
Habit and appearance
They have the habit of bottle trees,[2] and their soft, dilated trunks are armed with short conical spines. The leaves are digitately lobed.[3] They are strictly dioecious,[1][2] and like all Caricaceae, produce abundant milky sap when damaged.[1] The inflorescences are axillary. The male panicles hold many flowers, while the female flowers are solitary or borne in small numbers on short racemes.[4]
Range and occurrence
They occur as tall-growing, pioneer plants in moist submontane habitats, where they are local but gregarious.[3] The western species, C. solmsii is locally threatened by clearance for agriculture and wood, and may be extinct at Mount Cameroon and at Barombi, Kumba.[3]
Species interactions
The fruit of both species are eaten by birds and primates.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Cylicomorpha". e-Monograph of Caricaceae. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- 1 2 Aguirre, A.; et al. (2008). "Morphological variation in the flowers of Jacaratia mexicana A. DC. (Caricaceae), a subdioecious tree" (PDF). Plant Biology. doi:10.1111/j.1438-8677.2008.00154.x. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- 1 2 3 Cheek, M. (2004). "Cylicomorpha solmsii". IUCN red list of threatened species. IUCN. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ↑ "Cylicomorpha Urb. [family CARICACEAE]". Global Plants. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, jstor. Retrieved 19 February 2014.