Phyllobotryon

Phyllobotryon is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Salicaceae native to the region spanning from Nigeria to Tanzania and Angola.^[1]

Phyllobotryon
Epiphyllous inflorescence of Phyllobotryon spathulatum Müll.Arg.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Salicaceae
Subfamily:	Salicoideae
Tribe:	Scolopieae
Genus:	Phyllobotryon Müll.Arg.[1]
Type species
Phyllobotryon spathulatum Müll.Arg.[2][3]
Synonyms[1]
Phylloclinium Baill.

Description

Detail of Phyllobotryon spathulatum Müll.Arg. flower

Vegetative characteristics

Species of Phyllobotryon are small trees with large, alternately arranged leaves. The leaf venation is pinnate.^[4]

Generative characteristics

The genus displays unusual reproductive structures, as the axis of the epiphyllous inflorescence is fused with the petiole and the lower part of the midrib of a fused leaf.^[2][4]

Taxonomy

Phyllobotryon Müll.Arg. was published by Johannes Müller Argoviensis in 1864.^[4][1] The type species is Phyllobotryon spathulatum Müll.Arg.^[3][2] It was originally placed in the family Flacourtiaceae Rich. ex DC.,^[5][2][6] which is now included within the family Salicaceae Mirb.^[5][7] Several orthographical variants exist (e.g., Phyllobotryum and Phyllobotrion).^[2] The accepted spelling is Phyllobotryon.^[1][5][3]

Species

It has 5 species:^[1]

• Phyllobotryon bracteatum (Lecomte) Hul
• Phyllobotryon lebrunii Staner
• Phyllobotryon maikoense Bamps & Lejoly
• Phyllobotryon paradoxum (Baill.) Hul
• Phyllobotryon spathulatum Müll.Arg.