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Key to Meliaceae

Meliaceae

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1 Leaves 2× odd-pinnately compound; fruit a drupe; [widely planted and naturalized in our area, especially southward]
1 Leaves 1× even-pinnately compound (sometimes 1× odd-pinnately compound); fruit a capsule; [either restricted to s. peninsular FL or rarely planted and naturalized].
  2 Leaflets 16-40; capsules 1.5-2 cm long, the 5 valves separating at the apex of the capsule (remaining fused to the receptacle); [rarely planted and naturalized]
  2 Leaflets 4-10; capsules 6-10 cm long, the 5 valves separating at the base of the capsule (remaining fused at the apex of the persistent column); [native (and planted), s. peninsular FL]
    3 Leaflets nearly symmetrical at the base

Key F4: Key to Plantae

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1 Leaflets rounded to obtuse at the apex (or acute to acuminate in Gymnocladus); fruit a legume; inflorescence various, but not as below
1 Leaflets acuminate at the apex (except Cupaniopsis with leaflet apices rounded or retuse; fruit a drupe or capsule; inflorescence a panicle with many, small, radially symmetrical flowers.
    3 Leaflet apices rounded, retuse, or occasionally acute; fruit a yellow-orange, 3-valved capsule (green when maturing, sometimes browned after maturation), each of the 3 valves housing a black seed enclosed in an orange aril
    3 Leaflet apices acuminate or acute; fruit a hard brown capsule (Swietenia) or a 5-valved capsule (Toona); the seeds not accompanied by an orange aril.
      4 Leaflets strongly oblique at the base; leaflets fewer (4-10) per leaf; capsules 6-10 cm long; with 5 valves separating at the base of the capsule (but remaining fused at the apex of the persistent column); [s. FL only in our area]
      4 Leaflets weakley oblique at the base (if at all); leaflets numerous (16-40) per leaf; capsules 1.5-2 cm long, with 5 valves separating at the capsule apex (but remaining fused to the receptacle); [c. TN northeastward in our area, uncommon non-native]
  2 Fruit a drupe or berry-like.
        5 Leaflets 4 (sometimes 6 in Exothea) per leaf.
          6 Leaflets often 4 (sometimes 6) per leaf; the rachis never winged; petals lacking cilia; fruit ripening dark purple or black
          6 Leaflets 4, in two opposite and sessile pairs; the rachis sometimes winged; petals ciliate; fruit ripening yellowish-green
        5 Leaflets many (> 4 leaflets), usually 7-many.
             7 Tree dioecious; drupe ca. 5 mm long; stamens (of male flowers) 3-5 (-7)