Gymnosporia emarginata
Celastraceae
Main specimen
Habit
Gymnosporia emarginata is a thorny and deciduous shrub, growing up to 5-6 m high.
Gymnosporia emarginata shrub
Gymnosporia emarginata shrub
Gymnosporia emarginata branches
Stem Bark
The bark of Gymnosporia emarginata is smooth and light brown-coloured.
Gymnosporia emarginata has sharp thorns, growing axillary from the branches or apically at the end of the branchlets.
Gymnosporia emarginata thorns
Gymnosporia emarginata trunk
Gymnosporia emarginata bark
Gymnosporia emarginata leaves and thorns
Gymnosporia emarginata bark
Gymnosporia emarginata thorn
Gymnosporia emarginata stems
Gymnosporia emarginata branches
Leaf
The leaves of Gymnosporia emarginata grow alternately on the stem (spirally arranged).
The leaf is simple, bright green-coloured above and paler beneath. The leaf is coriaceous and glabrous on both sides.
The leaves have a 5 mm long petiole.
The leaf of Gymnosporia emarginata is 3-5 cm long and 2.5-3.5 cm wide. The shape of the blade is ovate, obovate or spathulate, the apex is obtuse or acute and often emarginate, the base is rounded or cuneate and the margins are entire (somtimes obscurely crenate).
The venation of the leaf is reticulate with a prominent midrib.
Gymnosporia emarginata branchlet
Gymnosporia emarginata leaves (upper sides)
Gymnosporia emarginata leaves (lower sides)
Gymnosporia emarginata heart-shaped leaf
Gymnosporia emarginata branch
Gymnosporia emarginata branchlet
Gymnosporia emarginata leaf (upper side)
Gymnosporia emarginata leaf (lower side)
Gymnosporia emarginata branchlet with thorns
Gymnosporia emarginata branchlet with leaves
Flower
The flowers of Gymnosporia emarginata are grouped in short axillary or terminal cymes. The peduncle is reduced.
The flowers are 5-merous.
The calyx is composed of a 5 mm long tube and 5 mm long lobes. The calyx is light green yellowish-coloured and glabrous.
The corolla is composed of 5 white-coloured and glabrous petals. The petals are ovate and 3-4 mm long and 2-3 mm wide.
The androecium is composed of 5 stamens with 2-3 mm long filaments and small and ovoid anthers.
The style is short with 3 stigmas.
The ovary is 3-celled with 2 ovules per cell.
The flowers are fragrant.
Gymnosporia emarginata blooming branchlet
Gymnosporia emarginata inflorescences
Gymnosporia emarginata flowers
Gymnosporia emarginata flower (flower bud on the left)
Gymnosporia emarginata flower (lower and upper side)
Gymnosporia emarginata inflorescences in buds
Gymnosporia emarginata inflorescence
Gymnosporia emarginata flowers
Gymnosporia emarginata flowers
Gymnosporia emarginata flowers on stem
Fruit
The fruit of Gymnosporia emarginata is a subglobose and trilocular capsule. The fruit is 6-8 mm across, dehiscing into 3 valves.
Gymnosporia emarginata fruiting branchlet (ripe fruits)
Gymnosporia emarginata fruiting branchlet (unripe fruits)
Gymnosporia emarginata open fruit
Gymnosporia emarginata unripe fruit on stem
Gymnosporia emarginata green fruits
Gymnosporia emarginata fruits
Gymnosporia emarginata open capsule and red seeds
Gymnosporia emarginata fruits and seeds
Seed
The seeds of Gymnosporia emarginata are ovoid and 3-4 mm across with a fleshy aril. There are 2 seeds in each valve of the capsule.
Gymnosporia emarginata seeds
Gymnosporia emarginata fruit longitudinal section
Gymnosporia emarginata seed (with its white aril)
Gymnosporia emarginata open fruit exposing the seeds
Gymnosporia emarginata open fruits exposing the seeds
Gymnosporia emarginata seeds
Gymnosporia emarginata seeds with their capsule
Gymnosporia emarginata seeds dissected in half
Source
Information on this page is sourced from: