This is a revision of all the African species of Lecythidaceae s.l. Representatives of all four subfamilies occur in Africa. A total of 50 species are recognised in ten genera. Seven genera are endemic to continental Africa: Brazzeia, Crateranthus, Napoleonaea, Oubanguia, Pierrina, Rhaptopetalum and Scytopetalum and three also occur elsewhere: Barringtonia, Petersianthus and Foetidia. New species are described in Napoleonaea: N. alata, N. beninensis, N. cuneata and N. sapoensis, in Crateranthus: C. cameroonensis, and in Rhaptopetalum: R. cheekii. Keys for identification and distribution maps of all species are provided. The distribution of Lecythidaceae in Africa is predominantly in West Africa from Guinea to the Democratic Republic of the Congo with only a few species occurring in East Africa.
This chapter covers some fundamental botanical aspects of climbing plants in Upper Guinean forests, particularly their taxonomy, morphology, biogeography and modes of dispersal.
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