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Table 2 Summary of seed measurements for Plukenetia, Romanoa, and Haematostemon (min–max [mean]). Size categories: (S) small, 25–100 mm3; (M) medium, 100–500 mm3; (L) large, 500–3000 mm3; (XL) extra-large, 3000–13,000 mm3; (Max) maximum, 26,000–38,000 mm3. † = measurements based solely on the species description; n/a = seeds not known

From: Seed size evolution and biogeography of Plukenetia (Euphorbiaceae), a pantropical genus with traditionally cultivated oilseed species

Taxon

No. seeds

Length (mm)

Width (mm)

Thickness (mm)

Estimated volume (mm3)

Size category

Haematostemon guianensis Sandw.

1

4

4

4.5

38

S

Plukenetia africana Sond.

18

5.5–8 (6.6)

5–7.5 (6.5)

2.5–4 (3.4)

47–126 (79)

S–M

P. ankaranensis L.J.Gillespie

6

15–18 (16.5)

16–17 (16.4)

14–17 (15.4)

1929–2623 (2187)

L

P. brachybotrya Müll.Arg.

5

5–6 (5.7)

4–5.5 (4.9)

4–5 (4.5)

42–79 (67)

S

P. aff. Brachybotrya

4

5.5–5.6 (5.6)

4–4.9 (4.6)

3.3–4.1 (3.7)

37–59 (49)

S

P. carabiasiae J.Jiménez Ram.

†

24–27

21–27

14–16

3695–6107

XL

P. carolis-vegae Bussmann, Paniagua & C.Téllez

1

27

25

20

7069

XL

P. cf. carolis-vegae

2

19–20

17–18.6

13–15.8

2221–2981 (2601)

L

P. conophora Müll.Arg.

3

25–29 (27)

25–27 (26.3)

25–28 (26)

8181–10,688 (9706)

XL

P. corniculata Sm.

27

8–10.5 (9.3)

6–8 (7.3)

4–8 (5.5)

123–272 (197)

M

P. decidua L.J.Gillespie

2

13.1

11.1–11.2 (11.2)

11.2–11.8 (11.5)

853–907 (880)

L

P. huayllabambana Bussmann, C.Téllez & A.Glenn

2

25–28 (26.5)

22–27 (24.5)

17–20 (18.5)

4896–7917 (6627)

XL

P. lehmanniana (Pax & K.Hoffm.) Huft & L.J.Gillespie

3

28–34.3 (30.8)

20–24 (21.7)

24–30 (26)

7037–12,919 (9289)

XL

P. loretensis Ule

12

4.5–6 (5.1)

4–5.1 (4.5)

3–5 (4)

28–79 (48)

S

P. madagascariensis Leandri

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

P. multiglandulosa Jabl.

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

P. penninervia Müll.Arg.

8

5–6 (5.3)

5–6 (5.6)

4–5 (4.5)

60–79 (70.6)

S

P. cf. penninervia

2

7

6.3–6.5

5–5.2

115–124 (120)

M

P. polyadenia Müll.Arg.

19

49–56 (51.3)

33–37 (34.8)

30–36 (32.7)

26,177–37,322 (30,684)

Max

P. procumbens Prain

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

P. serrata (Vell.) L.J.Gillespie

2

15–15.5 (15.3)

15.5–16 (15.8)

15–16 (15.5)

1887–2011 (1949)

L

P. stipellata L.J.Gillespie

47

10–14 (11.8)

8–13.5 (10.2)

2.5–6 (4.7)

144–484 (301)

M

P. supraglandulosa L.J.Gillespie

3

7–7.3 (7.2)

6.8–7.1 (6.9)

4.6–4.8 (4.7)

117–125 (122)

M

P. verrucosa Sm.

10

5.3–6 (5.9)

3.7–5.5 (5.1)

3.5–5 (4)

55–69 (62)

S

P. volubilis L.

14

13–22 (17)

11.8–18 (15.2)

5–9 (7.2)

480–1659 (997)

(M) L

Romanoa tamnoides (A.Juss.) Radcl.-Sm.

21

6.3–8 (7.3)

5–6 (5.6)

3–4.2 (3.9)

63–101 (83)

S