Rousseaceae

Illustration of Abrophyllum ornans.

Rousseaceae are a plant family in the order of the aster -like ( Asterales ). You have a disjoint area: one in New Zealand, eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea, Mauritius to another.

Description

The usually alternate, simple leaves have a serrated or toothed margin. The hermaphrodite flowers are radial symmetry. There are four to seven free stamens present. The ovary is upper constant. The characteristics of the representatives of the subfamilies differ widely; please refer to the descriptions in the following section systematics.

Systematics and distribution with descriptions

The Rousseaceae form with the Campanulaceae along the basal group of Asterales. Rousseau simplex is presented earlier to the Saxifragaceae.

The family is divided into two subfamilies and contains four genera with about 13 species:

• Subfamily Rousseaoideae: With only one monotypic genus: Rousseau: The only kind: Rousseau simplex: It is resident in Mauritius: It is an evergreen, woody climbing vine ( liana ) or small tree. The leaves are opposite. The large flowers are cruciform. The four petals are fused. Are formed berries.

• Abrophyllum Hook. f ex Benth. ( Syn: Brachynema F.Muell. ): There are one or two species in eastern Australia. The simple leaves with toothed margin. The flowers are fünfzählig. They form spherical berries with many seeds. Abrophyllum ornans ( F.Muell. ) Hook. f ex Benth.

• Carpodetus amplus Reeder
• Carpodetus serratus J.R.Forst. et G.Forst. This shrub or small tree native to New Zealand.

• Cuttsia viburnea F.Muell.

Swell

• The Rousseaceae family in APWebsite (English )
• Description in the Flora of New South Wales. (English )