Contains 4 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
SAPINDUS Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 367. 1753.
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TYPE: Sapindus saponaria Linnaeus Lectotypified by Britton & A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 2: 500. 1913.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapindus drummondii | WESTERN SOAPBERRY | Not Native | ||
| Sapindus marginatus | FLORIDA SOAPBERRY | Native | ||
| Sapindus mukorossi | INDIAN SOAPBERRY | Not Native | ||
| Sapindus saponaria | SOAPBERRY | Native FACU (NWPL) |
Identification Key
1. Petiolule and leaflet lower surface along base of midrib densely villous; leaflets 10–20, the blade 0.6-3 cm wide, 2.5-17 times longer than wide; mature fruit lobe (mericarp) 8-14 mm wide; seed 6-9 mm wide
1. Petiolule and leaflet lower surface along base of midrib sparsely to moderately pubescent or glabrous; leaflets 6–14(16), the blade 1.5-8.5 cm wide, 2.5-6 times longer than wide; mature fruit lobe (mericarp) 14-25 mm wide; seed 9-15 mm wide
2
2. Leaf rachis winged or unwinged, sometimes the wings wider than the rachis; leaflets 4-8(12) per leaf, 1.8-3.5(4.5) times longer than wide; upper surface of petal lacking a basal appendage; freeze-intolerant, evergreen or only briefly deciduous just before the new flush of leaves, shoots lacking foliaceous cataphylls (only non-foliaceous bud scales present); flowering Sep-Feb; germination hypogeal and cryptocotylar, first true leaves simple
2. Leaf rachis unwinged, or very narrowly winged, very rarely strongly winged; leaflets 6-15 per leaf, 3-6 times longer than wide; upper surface of petal with 2 densely pilose appendages 0.5-1.5 mm long arising near the petal blade base or claw apex; freeze-tolerant, winter deciduous, in the following spring new shoots with 2-3 oblong to obovate green, foliaceous cataphylls; flowering Apr-June; germination epigeal and phanerocotylar, first true leaves compound
3
4. Petiolule 0-3 mm long; leaflet blade lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 1.5-4 cm wide, 3-6 times longer than wide, adaxially the blade usually not sunken along the midrib, at mid-blade the midrib to 0.2 mm high, the midrib and secondary veins pale green, tertiary and quaternary veins nearly concolorous with the blade surface; exduates lacking or these clear adaxially along the rachis, leaflet midrib, and abaxially on the blade surface (also present ephemerally on developing leaves); mature fruit lobe (mericarp) 14-18 mm wide
4. Petiolule 1-10 mm long; leaflet blade ovate-lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, 1.5-8.5 cm wide, 2.5-5 times longer than wide, adaxially the blade often sunken along the midrib, at mid-blade the midrib to 0.4 mm high, the midrib and secondary veins whitish green to pale green, tertiary and quaternary veins conspicuous and discolorous from the blade surface; reddish, orangish, to yellowish exudates present adaxially along the rachis and leaflet midrib, usually abaxially on the leaflet blade surface especially near the base of the midrib (also present ephemerally on developing leaves); mature fruit lobe (mericarp) (15)20-25 mm wide
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
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