Delphinium trees

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Delphinium trees
Vochysia pumila, illustration

Vochysia pumila , illustration

Systematics
Eudicotyledons
Nuclear eudicotyledons
Rosids
Eurosiden II
Order : Myrtle-like (Myrtales)
Family : Delphinium trees
Scientific name
Vochysiaceae
A.St.-Hil.

The delphinium trees ( Vochysiaceae ) are a family of plants in the order of the myrtle-like (Myrtales). The 190 to 210 species are mainly found in the Neotropic .

description

The species of the Vochysiaceae family are mostly evergreen, woody plants that grow as trees , shrubs and lianas . The simple foliage leaves are opposite, as with most other myrtle-like species , but there are taxa with alternate or whirling leaves. If Stipules are present, they are small; sometimes they are converted into glands.

In mostly paniculate inflorescences there are usually many flowers together. The hermaphroditic, mostly large flowers are zygomorphic or asymmetrical . The bracts are divided into calyx and crown. The spurred calyx consists of five sepals that are fused at the base . The sepals are often of unequal size and the largest forms a spur. Callisthene , Erisma , Korupodendron , Qualea and Ruizterania have only one petal , Vochysia three, Erismadelphus and Salvertia five petals. The nailed petals are free and white, pink to purple or yellow. There is only a circle with one to five (to seven) stamens , which can be free or attached to the stamens. It is typical that only one stamen is fertile with a short stamen and long anthers . It is functional only under constant carpel present or three fruit leaves are a top permanent ovary overgrown.

There are cap fruits or Samaras , which are single-seeded fruit with four to five leaves (in this case of resistant sepals) is formed.

Callisthene major
Qualea multiflora
Illustration of Salvertia densiflora

Systematics and distribution

The Vochysiaceae family was set up in 1820 by Augustin François César Prouvençal de Saint-Hilaire in Mémoires du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle , Volume 6, p. 265 under the name "Vochisieae".

The Vochysiaceae are closest to the Chrysobalanaceae .

The distribution is mainly neotropical . The greatest biodiversity is found in Central America , in tropical South America and on the Caribbean islands . Only the genus Erismadelphus and Korupodendron can be found in western tropical Africa . The areas are mostly in the lowland rainforest .

The family Vochysiaceae is divided into two tribes and contains about seven to eight genera with 190 to 210 species:

  • Tribe Erismeae Dumort. : They functionally have a single carpel underneath and, as fruits, samaras , which are single-seeded fruits with wings (in this case made of permanent sepals). It contains three types:
  • Tribus Vochysieae Dumort. : Three carpels have grown together to form an upper ovary. They form capsule fruits . It contains about five genera:
    • Callisthene Mart. : The seven or so species are common in South America.
    • Qualea Aubl. : The approximately 60 species are widespread in the Neotropic.
      • Qualea rosea Aubl. : northern Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana
    • Ruizterania Marc.-Berti : The nine or so species are common in South America.
    • Salvertia A.St.-Hil. : It contains a maximum of three species in South America.
    • Vochysia Aubl. : The approximately 100 species are widespread in the Neotropic.

The genus Euphronia, which used to be part of this family, has one or two species, has completely different flowers and today forms a separate family Euphroniaceae within the order of the Malpighiales (Malpighiales).

use

Some species are used to produce wood .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Vochysiaceae in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
  2. ↑ Qualea commercial timbers at DELTA. and Vochysia Handelsholz at DELTA.

Web links

Commons : Vochysiaceae  - Collection of images, videos and audio files