Asteropeiaceae

Asteropeia is the only genus of the family Asteropeiaceae in the order of the clove -like ( Caryophyllales ) within the angiosperms. The areas are unique to Madagascar. Most species are endangered and Asteropeia amblyocarpa is even threatened with extinction.

• 2.1 All species with their distribution and hazard

Description

Vegetative characteristics

Asteropeia species are evergreen, tall trees to creeping shrubs. The bark of young branches is very dark with intense brown to rust-colored hair. The Asteropeia species have a ectomycorrhiza.

The alternate arranged on the branches, short -stalked leaves are simple with a smooth or wavy margin. Stipules are not available.

Inflorescences and flowers

There are usually formed end, rare pendant, more or less branched inflorescences Rispige. The inflorescence axes are sometimes brown or rust-colored, hairy fluffy. The bracts are membranous.

The small to large, hermaphroditic, flowers are radial symmetry fünfzählig. The five sepals are fused at most at the base and still get to the fruit. The five free petals are white. They usually have two circles, each with five (a total of nine to fifteen possible) fertile stamens. The narrow filaments are wider at the bottom and grown together at the base into a cup shaped ring or entirely free; the inner circle are longer. The pollen grains have three apertures and are COLPAT or colporat. Three (rarely two) carpels are usually incomplete dreikammerigen to a intergrown superior ovaries. The ovary chamber are two to four, rarely up to six hanging, anatrope, bitegmische ovules contain. Either there is a sedentary, kopfige, three-lobed stigma or there are three free short, slender pen available.

Fruit and seeds

The usually dry, or only when Asteropeia densiflora something fleshy capsule fruit is large to small, globose to ovoid, with a smooth surface only contains one large seed. The calyx forms a wing on the fruit, on the often even the stamens are present. The diaspore is the fruit including the calyx. The seed contains much endosperm.

Systematics, distribution and hazard

Formerly this genus was (eg Cronquist 1981) or the family filed at the Theaceae in the Theales ( Takhtajan 1997). Morphological and molecular genetic studies have shown that it belongs to the order Caryophyllales within which the next of kin are the Physenaceae, they are also based only in Madagascar, for example, have similar fruit.

The genus Asteropeia in 1805 by Louis- Marie Aubert du Petit- Thouars in Histoire des Végétaux Recueillis dans les Isles Austral d' Afrique 51-52, pl. 15 first described. A synonyms for Asteropeia Thouars is Rhodoclada Baker (published in J. Linn. Soc., Bot, 21, 1884, 327 ). The Tribe Asteropeieae in the family Theaceae Mirb. was set up by Ignaz von Szyszylowicz. The rank of a family Asteropeiaceae they received in 1990 by James Lauritz Reveal in arms Takhtajan & Ruurd Dirk Hoogland: Bulletin du Muséum National d' Histoire Naturelle, Séries 4, Section B, Adansonia, Botanique Phytochimie, 12 ( 2), 205

All species with their distribution and hazard

The family contains only one genus with eight species. Here with their occurrence on Madasgaskar and the threat to the species according to the IUCN Red List:

• Asteropeia amblyocarpa Tul. ( Syn: Asteropeia amblyocarpa var longifolia H.Perrier, Asteropeia rhopaloides var angustata H.Perrier ):

• Asteropeia densiflora Baker (syn.: Asteropeia sphaerocarpa Baker):

• Asteropeia labatii GESchatz, Lowry & A. E.Wolf ( Syn: Asteropeia micra most var angustifolia H.Perrier ):

• Asteropeia matrambody ( Capuron ) GESchatz, Lowry & A. E.Wolf ( Syn: Asteropeia amblyocarpa var matrambody Capuron ):

• Asteropeia mcphersonii GESchatz, Lowry & A. E.Wolf:

• Asteropeia micra most Hallier f:

• Asteropeia multiflora Thouars ( Syn: Asteropeia bakeri Scott -Elliot ):

• Asteropeia rhopaloides ( Baker) Baill. ( Syn: Rhodoclada rhopaloides Baker):

Swell

• The Asteropeiaceae in APWebsite family. ( Section systematics and description)
• Asteropeiaceae at DELTA: L.Watson & MJDallwitz. ( Description section )
• GE Schatz: Asteropeiaceae at A Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Madagascar. Online, 2006 ( Section Description of the species and information on the species. )