Table 3.
Comparison of morphological characters of the three genera of Sabiaceae: Sabia, Meliosma, including M. alba, and Ophiocaryon
| Character | Sabia | Meliosma | Meliosma alba (Asian lineage) | Ophiocaryon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Habit | Liana or scandent shrub | Shrub, tree | Tree | Tree |
| Merism | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 or 4 |
| Symmetry | Polysymmetrical | Monosymmetrical | Monosymmetrical | Weakly mono- or disymmetrical |
| Perianth aestivation | Quincuncial | Quincuncial | Quincuncial | Quincuncial |
| Dimorphism of petals | No | Strong | Strong | Weak |
| Fusion of petal and stamen | – | + | + | +/– |
| Number of stamens/staminodes | 5/0 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 or 2/2 |
| Secondary pollen presentation structure | Absent or on unspecialized filament | Platform on filament | Platform on filament | Cup-shaped (cupula) |
| Staminodial dome | – | + | + | – |
| Nectary disc appendage | 5 or none | 5 or none | 5 | 5 |
| Pollen explosion mechanism | – | +/– | –? | – |
| Tanniferous layer in ovary wall | – | +/–? | + | + |
| Calcium oxalate crystals in anthers | + | + | + | + |
| Ovary fusion | Postgenital | Congenital | Congenital | Congenital |
| Style vascularised | + | – | – | – |
| Number of ovule integuments | 1 | 1 or 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Fruit | Schizocarpa | Drupea,b | Drupea | Drupec |
Based on data from Ronse De Craene and Wanntorp (2008) and Ronse De Craene et al. (2015b) and this study, with additional data from aLixiu and Brach (2007), bvan Beusekom (1971) and cAymard and Cuello (2005).