Billardiera

Billardiera is a genus of small vines and shrubs in the family, Pittosporaceae, which is endemic to Australia. The genus was first formally described in 1793 by botanist James Edward Smith who named it in honour of Jacques Labillardière, a French botanist.[1][2][3]

Billardiera
Billardiera scandens,
fruit - Lawson, NSW
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Pittosporaceae
Genus: Billardiera
Sm.
Species

See text

Synonyms
  • Marianthus Hugel ex Endl.
  • Calopetalon Harv.
  • Oncosporum Putt.
  • Labillardiera Schult. nom. illeg.
  • Sollya Lindl.
  • Pronaya Hugel

Description

Members of the genus, Billardiera, are woody climbers.[4] The leathery leaves are alternate.[3] The 5-merous hermaphroditic flowers are usually terminal, and may be solitary or clustered.[3] The perianth consists of a distinct calyx and corolla.[3] The petals are clawed. The anthers shed their pollen via longitudinal slits.[3] There is one hairless style & stigma.[3] The ovary is superior and either 2 or 3 locular, with the placentation being parietal.[3] The fruit is either a two-celled capsule or a berry with one or two cells.[3] The wingless seeds are often covered in a mucilaginous pulp.[3]

Distribution

The genus is endemic to Australia and found in all states and territories except the Northern Territory

Species include

References
  1. "Billardiera Sm". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  2. PlantNET New South Wales Flora Online: Billardiera
  3. "Billardiera". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  4. Cayzer, L, Crisp, M, Telford, I (2004) Cladistic analysis and revision of Billardiera (Pittosporaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 17, 83-125.


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