Karwinskia [For Baron W. F. von Karvinsky, 1780–1855, botanical collector in Brazil and Mexico] Karwinskia [For Baron W. F. von Karvinsky, 1780–1855, botanical collector in Brazil and Mexico]

Guy L. Nesom

Shrubs or trees, unarmed [armed with thorns]; bud scales present. Leaves deciduous, opposite; blade gland-dotted abaxially (secondary veins appearing light- and dark-banded); pinnately veined, secondary veins relatively straight. Inflorescences axillary, umbel-like cymes or flowers solitary; peduncles and pedicels not fleshy in fruit. Pedicels present. Flowers bisexual; hypanthium hemispheric to turbinate, 2–3 mm wide, gland-dotted; sepals 5, spreading, greenish, triangular, keeled adaxially, margins often gland-dotted; petals 5, white to yellowish or greenish yellow, hooded, triangular to deltate, not clawed, gland-dotted; nectary thin, lining hypanthium; stamens 5; ovary superior, 2–3-locular; ovules 2 per locule; style 1. Fruits drupes; stone 1, indehiscent.

Species ca. 18 (1 in the flora): Texas, Mexico, West Indies (Cuba, Hispaniola), Central America, South American (Colombia).

Lower Taxon

• Karwinskia humboldtiana (Schultes) Zuccarini