Lasiodiscus

Taxobox
name = "Lasiodiscus"


image_caption = "Lasiodiscus mildbraedii", pressed leaves showing opposite arrangement
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Rhamnaceae
genus = "Lasiodiscus"
genus_authority = J.D. Hook. 1862
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text

Lasiodiscus is a small plant genus in the family Rhamnaceae, endemic to Africa and its adjacent islands. The small trees have opposite, often asymmetric leaves. They regularly occur in the understorey of tropical forests, or alternatively in swamp forest. One species is limited to mountain forest understorey. "Lasiodiscus" is morphologically similar to "Colubrina" but preliminary molecular analysis failed to group them as nearest relatives. [A phylogenetic analysis of Rhamnaceae using RBCL and TRNL-F plastid DNA sequences, J.E. Richardson et al, American Journal of Botany, 87(9), 2000.]

There are 9 species:
* "Lasiodiscus chevalieri" Hutch.
* "Lasiodiscus fasciculiflorus" Engl.
* "Lasiodiscus holtzii" Engl.
* "Lasiodiscus mannii" Hook. (central Africa)
* "Lasiodiscus marmoratus" C.H. Wright
* "Lasiodiscus mildbraedii" Engl. (African tropics, locally along African east coast)
* "Lasiodiscus pervillei" Baill. (Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and Comores): "L. p. pervillei" (widespread in Madagascar): "L. p. ferrugineus" (Verdc.) (local in east Africa, Vulnerable)
* "Lasiodiscus rozeirae" A.W. Exell (São Tomé, Gulf of Guinea, Vulnerable)
* "Lasiodiscus usambarensis" Engl. (Usambara mountains, locally to Zimbabwe)

Footnote

External references

* [http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=923 Flora of Zimbabwe]
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=12&taxon_id=242443885 Madagascar Catalogue]
* [http://insidewood.lib.ncsu.edu/search/index.cfm?e=fulldescription&q=4328 Description of L. pervillei]

Note: The "Lasiodiscidae" belongs to the Foraminifera and Reichel (1945) described the genus "Lasiodiscus".