Myrothamnus

Myrothamnus flabellifolius

Myrothamnus is the only plant genus of the family of Myrothamnaceae in the small order of Gunnerales. The first type has only areas in Africa and the other type is endemic to Madagascar.

Description

They are small, xerophytic shrubs. They contain resins. They belong to the poikilohydric plants ( alternating wet plants, so-called " resurrection plants " ), they look like dried up in the drought once it gets wet, they turn green. The oppositely arranged leaves are constantly small, simple and smell aromatic. The leaf edges are serrated something. Stipules are present.

They are dioecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( dioecious ). Are formed with bracts eared kitten or like inflorescences. The unisexual flowers are radial symmetry to slightly zygomorphic and - as common in wind-pollinated plants - greatly reduced. Bracts absent. The male flower there are four or three to eight free, fertile stamens. In the female flowers three to four upper permanent carpels are fused only at their base. There are the same number of free, short curved stylus as carpels. Pollination is by wind ( anemophily ). There are equal together many follicles as carpels. The small seeds are oily.

System

This family was previously incorporated into the Hamamelidales.

In the family of Myrothamnaceae there is only one genus Myrothamnus Welw. with only two types:

  • Myrothamnus flabellifolius Welw. The home is the tropical Africa.
  • Myrothamnus moschatus ( Baill. ) Baill. It is endemic to Madagascar.
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