Shrubs [trees], often ± heterophyllous, not clonal; branching sympodial. Stems usually spinose, sometimes unarmed, spines simple and/or compound. Leaves usually persistent, sometimes ± deciduous (sometimes congested at apices of relatively short lateral branches); stipules absent; petiole not glandular. Inflorescences axillary, fasciculate [racemose], 1 or 2 per axil. Pedicels articulate. Flowers: sepals 4–6 (± persistent, connate proximally, imbricate); disc lobed (lobes extrastaminal, ± confluent [distinct]); stamens [8–]16–24[–50+] (usually exserted); filaments distinct; ovary 2- or 3-carpellate; style indistinct [relatively short]; stigmas 2 or 3, expanded, obcompressed, ± lobed. Fruits baccate. Seeds: aril absent. x = 10.

Distribution

Tex., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, se Asia, Pacific Islands.

Discussion

Species 80–90 (1 in the flora).

The infrageneric taxonomy of New-World Xylosma is confused and perplexing. Relatively few characters vary significantly and they seem to do so independently, in a complex pattern of intergrading morphologies. Of species that have been recognized, relatively few are unequivocally distinct.

Selected References

Kiger, R. W. 2001. Xylosma. In: R. McVaugh and W. R. Anderson, eds. 1974+. Flora Novo-Galiciana: A Descriptive Account of the Vascular Plants of Western Mexico. 8+ vols. Ann Arbor. Vol. 3, pp. 328–334.

Sleumer, H. 1980b. Xylosma. In: Organization for Flora Neotropica. 1968+. Flora Neotropica. 98+ nos. New York. No. 22, pp. 128–182.

Lower Taxa

Xylosma flexuosa