15. Gouania Jacquin, Select. Stirp. Amer. Hist. 263, plate 179, fig. 40. 1763.
Chewstick, jaboncillo [For Antoine Gouan, 1733–1821, French botanist and ichthyologist at Montpellier, director of botanical garden in 1767, later professor of botany and medicine] Chewstick, jaboncillo [For Antoine Gouan, 1733–1821, French botanist and ichthyologist at Montpellier, director of botanical garden in 1767, later professor of botany and medicine]
Guy L. Nesom
Woody vines [climbing shrubs], tendrils present [rarely absent], unarmed; bud scales present. Leaves deciduous [persistent], alternate; blade not gland-dotted; pinnately veined [3-veined from base]. Inflorescences: axillary or terminal, racemelike or paniclelike thyrses; peduncles and pedicels not fleshy in fruit. Pedicels present or absent. Flowers bisexual [unisexual, plants polygamous]; hypanthium cupulate to campanulate, 1.5–3 mm wide; sepals 5, spreading, pale green, ovate-triangular, keeled adaxially; petals 5 [rarely 0], white to yellowish or greenish, hooded, spatulate, clawed; nectary fleshy, margins 5-lobed [unlobed], lining hypanthium but distally free; stamens 5, enfolded by petals; ovary inferior, 3-locular; styles 3, connate basally. Fruits schizocarps, breaking into 3 2-winged samaras [rarely nutlets].
Species 50–70 (1 in the flora): Florida, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia.
Stems of at least some species of Gouania are chewed to clean the teeth and harden the gums, hence the common names.
