Cordeauxia Hemsl., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1907: 361. 1907.

Figs 36, 38, 40

Type.

Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl.

Description.

Multi-stemmed, unarmed, evergreen shrubs, red gland dots on stems. Stipules caducous or lacking (not seen). Leaves pinnate; leaflets in (1) 2-4 (6) pairs, coriaceous, with conspicuous red glands on the lower surface (Fig. 38D). Inflorescence a terminal, few-flowered raceme. Flowers bisexual, sub-actinomorphic; hypanthium persisting as a shallow cup at the pedicel apex as the fruit matures; sepals 5, caducous, with red glandular dots; petals 5, free, yellow; stamens 10, free, filaments pubescent; ovary with red gland dots. Fruit compressed-ovoid, ligneous, dehiscent, with very hard, thick valves, and a cornute beak, 1-4-seeded (Fig. 36G). Seeds ovoid.

Chromosome number.

2 n = 24 ( Miège and Miège 1978).

Included species and geographic distribution.

Monospecific ( C. edulis), in north-eastern Africa (Somalia and Ethiopia). Introduced in Israel, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Yemen (Orwa et al. 2009; Fig. 40).

Ecology.

Seasonally dry tropical (semi-desert) bushland and thicket on sand.

Etymology.

Named by Hemsley for Captain H. E. S. Cordeaux (1870-1943), one time H. M. Commissioner in Somalia.

Human uses.

The seeds of C. edulis (yeheb nut) are used as human food and have potential as an arid-land food; also used as livestock fodder, production of a red dye, as medicine, wood, an insecticide, and a soap substitute (Lewis 2005b).

Notes.

Cordeauxia is closely related to the genus Stuhlmannia but is easily distinguished by its distinct habit: a shrub with a large tap-root (vs. medium-sized tree), and large, cornute, inertly dehiscent fruit with ovoid seeds (vs. non-cornute, explosively dehiscent fruit with compressed seeds).

Taxonomic references.

Brink (2006); Gagnon et al. (2016); Lewis (2005b); Roti-Michelozzi (1957); Thulin (1983, 1993).