Physena

Physena is the only genus of the family Physenaceae in the order of the clove -like ( Caryophyllales ) within the angiosperms. The genus is found only in Madagascar.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Physena species grow as shrubs and small trees. Secondary growth occurs through a normal Kambiumring. Cork cambium is present. The xylem has tracheid.

The alternate and arranged in two rows on the branches leaves are stalked. The simple leaf blades are pinnately and flat with a smooth margin. On leaves no hairs are present. The anomocytischen stomata are mainly located on the lower leaf surface ( abaxial ). Stipules are not available.

Generative features

Physena species are dioecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ). Are formed pendant male and female racemose inflorescences. The five to nine sepals are kronblattartig. Petals absent. The male flowers have a rudimentary gynoecium. Most 10 to 14 (8 to 25) stamens are all fertile. The thin, short stamens are fused to each other at their base or entirely free. The anthers are long. The colpaten pollen grains have three apertures. The female flowers have no rudimentary stamens. The two carpels are fused into a superior ovaries. The ovary chamber are two campylotrope, bitegmische, crassinucellate ovules available. The two more or less free long pen each end in a scar. Pollination is by insects ( anemophily ).

The dry fruit only contains a large seed. The embryo is straight.

Ingredients

There are triterpene glycosides and keto fatty acids present. There are accumulated as Druze calcium oxalate crystals.

Systematics and distribution

The genus name Physena 1806 by Francisco Noronha in Louis -Marie Aubert du Petit- Thouars: Gen. Nov. Madagasc. , 6 first published. The Physenaceae family was erected in 1985 in poor Takhtajan Botaničeskij Žurnal (Moscow & Leningrad ), 70, pp. 1692

Formerly this genus was classified in the Capparaceae, Flacourtiaceae, Urticales ( Cronquist 1988), Sapindales or Dilleniidae. The closest relatives within the order of Caryophyllales are the Asteropeiaceae, they are also based only in Madagascar and for example, have similar fruit.

The family contains only one genus with only two species, only in Madagascar:

  • Physena madagascariensis Thouars ex Tul. It occurs in the provinces of Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara. It grows in forests at altitudes 0-2000 meters.
  • Physena sessiliflora Tul. It occurs in the provinces of Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara. It grows in thickets and forests at altitudes between 0 and 500 meters.

Swell

  • The Physenaceae in APWebsite family. ( Section systematics)
  • The Physenaceae family at DELTA of L.Watson & MJDallwitz. ( Description section )
  • Entry in the Flora of Madagascar. ( Section systematics)
  • Sherwin Carlquist: Asteropeia and Physena ( Caryophyllales ): A case study in comparative wood anatomy, in Brittonia, 58 (4 ), 2006, pp. 301-313.
  • Dickison WC & Miller RB: Morphology and anatomy of the Malagasy genus Physena ( Physenaceae ), with a discussion of the relationships of the genus, in Bull Mus. Natl. Hist Nat. Paris, Series 4, 15, Adansonia, 1993, pp. 85-106.
  • CM Morton, KG Karol & Mark W. Chase: Taxonomic affinities of Physena ( Physenaceae ) and Asteropeia ( Theaceae ) in Botanical Review, 63, 1997, pp. 231-239.
  • Caryophyllales
  • Caryophyllales
Vascular cambium Ovary (botany) Stigma (botany) Bioaccumulation
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