Cylicomorpha

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.

Cylicomorpha
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Caricaceae
Genus: Cylicomorpha
Urb., 1901
Species
  • C. parviflora Urb.
  • C. solmsii (Urb.) Urb.

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]

Species
ImageScientific nameDistribution
C. parviflora Urb.eastern Kenya, Tanzania
C. solmsii (Urb.) Urb.Cameroon

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. "Cylicomorpha". e-Monograph of Caricaceae. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  2. Aguirre, A.; et al. (2008). "Morphological variation in the flowers of Jacaratia mexicana A. DC. (Caricaceae), a subdioecious tree" (PDF). Plant Biology. 11 (3): 417–424. doi:10.1111/j.1438-8677.2008.00154.x. PMID 19470112. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  3. Cheek, M. (2004). "Cylicomorpha solmsii". IUCN red list of threatened species. IUCN. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  4. "Cylicomorpha Urb. [family CARICACEAE]". Global Plants. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, jstor. Retrieved 19 February 2014.


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