Loganiaceae

Ignatius Brechnuss ( Strychnos ignatii ), illustration

The Brechnuss plants or Loganiengewächse ( Loganiaceae ) is a family in the order of the gentian -like ( Gentianales ) within the angiosperms ( Magnoliopsida ). The approximately 13 genera are distributed almost worldwide. Some species contain highly toxic indole alkaloids.

Description

There are mostly woody plants: trees, shrubs or lianas, rarely herbaceous plants. Few species are epiphytes. Some species have thorns. Most of the leaves are alternate and entire. Most stipules are present.

Rare are the species dioecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ). The flowers are usually hermaphrodite and four or fünfzählig. The sepals are fused Roehrig. The petals are fused into a corolla tube. It's just a circle with four or five fertile stamens present. Two carpels are fused into a most superior ovaries.

Are formed capsule fruits, berries or drupes. Sometimes the seeds are winged.

Systematics and distribution

The Loganiaceae family in 1827 by Robert Brown in Carl Friedrich Philipp von Martius: placed Nova Genera et Species Plantarum ..., 2, p 133. Type genus is Logania R.Br. Synonyms of Loganiaceae R.Br. ex Mart. nom. cons. are: Antoniaceae Hutchinson, Gardneriaceae Perleb, Geniostomataceae L.Struwe & V.Albert, Spigeliaceae Berchtold & J.Presl, Strychnaceae Perleb. According to some classifications (especially in the classification of angiosperms after Tachtadschjan ) the family of Loganiengewächse is also on four families: Zoned Strychnaceae, Antoniaceae, Spigeliaceae and Loganiaceae. Recent genetic analysis but confirm the togetherness of a family. In the order of Gentianalesn Loganiaceae are the most original family.

The Loganiaceae family is spread almost worldwide, but is lacking in Europe. The areas are mainly in the tropics and subtropics. A center of biodiversity is Australia and New Caledonia.

In the family Loganiaceae there are about 13 genera with about 420 species:

• Antonia Pohl: it contains only the type: Antonia ovata Pohl: It is common in South America.

• Usteria guineensis: It occurs in tropical Africa and has zygomorphe flowers with only one stamen.

The monotypic genus Desfontainia with the only kind Desfontainia spinosa, which was formerly classified in the family Loganiaceae, now forms the family Desfontainiaceae.

Pictures

Strychnos spinosa:

Fruit

Antonia ovata

Illustrations:

Ordinary Brechnuss ( Strychnos nux vomica )

Poison Brechnuss ( Strychnos toxifera )

Strychnos colubrina

Swell

• The Loganiaceae in APWebsite family. (Sections systematics and description)
• Description of the family of Loganiaceae at DELTA by L. Watson & MJ Dallwitz. ( Description section )