Huaceae

Afrostyrax kamerunensis

The Huaceae are a small family in the order of the sorrel -like ( Oxalidales ) within the angiosperms ( Magnoliopsida ). The only three species are native to tropical Africa.

Description

The three species of the family are evergreen woody plants: trees, shrubs or lianas. The plants smell like garlic. The alternate, arranged in two rows, short -stalked leaves have a simple leaf blade with an unperforated margin. The stomata are paracytisch. The stipules fall off early; they are at Hua slightly larger small and Afrostyrax.

The flowers can be summarized in frets that time, few-flowered inflorescences or stand individually. The small radial symmetry flowers are hermaphroditic and four or fünfzählig. The ( four ) usually five petals are hairy. There are two circles, each with four or five free, fertile stamens present. Five carpels are fused into a superior ovaries, with a pen and a small scar.

Are formed stone fruits or fruit capsules that contain only a large seed. The well- trained embryo has two broad, flattened cotyledons ( cotyledons ).

Occurrence

The distribution of Huaceae family lies in tropical Africa (West and Central Africa). Their representatives thrive in rainforests.

System

The Huaceae family was erected in 1947 by Auguste Jean Baptiste Chevalier in Revue international de botanique appliquée et d'agriculture Tropicale, 27, p 28. Type genus is ex Hua Pierre De Wild.

The position of the Huaceae within the Magnoliopsida has been controversial, as it were ( in Cronquist 1981) placed in the orders of the Malvales (for example, Baas Takhtajan 1972 or 1997) or Violales or no order ( APG I and II ) are attributable. Molecular genetic studies revealed that the Huaceae are the sister group of the remaining sorrel -like ( Oxalidales ) and are therefore allocated by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group 2009 of this order.

There are only two genera with three species in the family of Huaceae:

• Afrostyrax Perkins & Gilg: There are formed stone fruits: Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr. It is native to Cameroon, Gabon and Ghana. This species is threatened by loss of habitat.
• Afrostyrax kamerunensis Perkins & Gilg

• Hua gabonii Pierre ex De Wild.

Use

All three species are used in Africa because of their garlic-like taste for seasoning. The bark is to be used by all three species. From Hua gabonii the leaves and the seeds are as well Afrostyrax lepidophyllus the roots to flavor sauces. The bark is also used in folk medicine.

Swell

• Huaceae in the Germplasm Resources Information Network ( GRIN), USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
• The Huaceae in APWebsite family. (Section Description and systematics)
• The Huaceae family at DELTA - Families of flowering Plants of Watson & Dallwitz. ( Description section )