Fruit and Seed Structures in Menodora (Oleaceae): a Comparison with Jasminum

The fruit development in Menodora agrees largely with that in Jasminum , except for the final stages. The seed coat resembles that of Jasminum in the presence of ribbon‐shaped wall thickenings in the mesotestal layers, a character not known from any other Oleaceae. In several characters there is more similarity between Menodora and Jasminum sect. Alternifolia , or between Menodora and J. nudiflorum , than there is among the species of Jasminum . This supports the idea that Jasminum might be paraphyletic, if Menodora is retained as a separate genus.