Cassinopsis madagascariensis Baill.

Fig. 8.1–8.9

Material examined

Specimen used for endocarp and fruit description

MADAGASCAR • 1999; P.P. Lowry et al. 5162; P[MNHN-P-P00724815].

Description

FRUIT. Elliptical, asymmetrical at the apex, ridged when dry, revealing the underlying reticulum of endocarp ridges. Mesocarp ca 100 µm thick when dry. Length 5–8 mm, width 3.5–5.0 mm, thickness 3.0– 4.8 mm.

ENDOCARP. Cream, elliptical to globose in lateral view, globose in transverse section, length ca 6 mm, width ca 5 mm, thickness ca 4 mm. Apex slightly flattened. Outer surface of the endocarp ridged, with ca 5–6 main longitudinal ridges; the median and two lateral ridges reaching the point of the base. Ridges thin and rounded, forming a diffuse pattern, interconnected with the main ridges. Endocarp wall 520– 750 µm thick excluding ridges (660–980 µm thick including ridges). Vasculature of the endocarp resting on ridges, with the primary vascular bundle embedded within the endocarp wall in the thicker part of the keel. Endocarp wall with ca 20 rows of isodiametric to anticlinally oriented cells, cells 30–55 µm in width. Inflated cells line the locule surface, cells 15–18 µm in width. Locule surface not lacunate, ornamented with clusters of 3–6 simple and wide hairs.