Schlegeliaceae
The Schlegeliaceae are a family from the order of Lippenblütlerartigen ( Lamiales ). To her four genera are counted that occur between Mexico and the tropical regions of South America.
- 2.1 Outer systematics
- 2.2 Internal systematics
Description
Vegetative characteristics
The representatives of the Schlegeliaceae are shrubs, subshrubs or vines that grow erect or climbing on the floor or epiphytic life. The shoot axes do not form a inner phloem and at the surface glabrous or with simple glandular or non- glandular, unicellular or multicellular trichomes occupied. In the shoot nodes are no lines or glandular areas between the petioles of the node, no stipules are formed.
The almost leathery to leathery leaves are opposite or nearly opposite, simple, mostly entire margins (only in the genus Synapsis the leaf edges are finely saw-toothed ). The fiedernervige leaf blade may be occupied glabrous or slightly pubescent.
Inflorescences and flowers
The inflorescences are racemose, zymös or consist only of a single flower. They are in the leaf axils, sometimes as dense clumps, bracts are present, the flower stalks are fully trained. The hermaphrodite flowers can be both quite small and quite large, often they are very striking. The calyx is lobed irregular, consisting of five lobes or five divided, remains in fruit ripening exist and is usually enlarged. The fivefold corolla is tubular or funnel-shaped, bilaterally symmetrical or nearly radial symmetry. The corolla tube is straight and neither baggy nor bulged bespornt. The four stamens arise in the corolla tube. The stamens are free, and alternate with the petals. The dust bags are made of two equal, mutually separated counters. In addition to the four fertile stamens another, sterile stamen ( Staminodium ) is available. The stamp is individually, the two-lobed ovary is upper constant and has a large number of ovules. These arise in two large axis constant placentas. The stylus is terminal and has simple scars.
Fruit and seeds
The fruits are berries that do not jump even at maturity. They contain many seeds whose surface with a network of small bumps ( Muri ) is open and contains a straight, small embryo.
System
Outer systematics
The Schlegeliaceae family consists of four genera. For a long time the genera either the figwort family ( Scrophulariaceae ) or catalpa family ( Bignoniaceae ) were assigned, but were very unusual for both families. Molecular biological studies have shown, however, that the Schlegeliaceae close is neither of the two families. First, the species of the genus Thomandersia were expected to this family, but molecular studies placed a placement of this genus in the mono- generic family Thomandersiaceae close.
Inside systematics
Within the family, four genera are distinguished:
- Exarata A.H.Gentry
- Gibsoniothamnus L.O.Williams
- Schlegelia Miq.
- Synapsis Griseb.