Symplocaceae

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Ordo: Ericales

Familia: Symplocaceae
Genus: Symplocos
Name

Symplocaceae Desf.
References

Stevens, P.F. 2001 onwards. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 14, July 2017 [and more or less continuously updated since]. Online. Reference page.

Vernacular names
čeština: samoduťové
日本語: ハイノキ科
中文: 山矾科

Symplocaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Ericales, including two genera, Symplocos and Cordyloblaste, totalling about 260 known species.[1] The common name for Symplocaceae is sweetleaf. Symplocaceae has a transpacific distribution that covers the Southeast United States, South America, Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.[2] Plants in the family Symplocaceae are generally trees or shrubs,[3] and are found in humid, tropical, montane forests within their range.

Description

The leaves of Symplocaceae are generally simple and are alternate or spirally arranged. The margin is either dentate, glandular-dentate, or entire. The petioles of the leaves lack stipules at the base.[2]

The flowers of Symplocaceae appear as an inflorescence that is generally axillary but can occasionally be terminal. The inflorescence is a spike, raceme, compact cyme, or thyrsi-panicle. The petals occur in a multiple of three, five, or eleven, and there are three to five sepals. The petals are most often white, but in unusual circumstances maybe yellow.[2]

The fruit of Symplocaceae is a dry drupe.[3] It possesses a lignified endocarp or "stone" which often contains key information when distinguishing between closely related species of Symplocaceae. Symplocaceae endocarps are open at the apex with multiple chambers ranging in number from one to five but generally, three-chambered. These chambers hold seeds and protect them from damage. Most Symplocaceae endocarps have ridging on the surface of the endocarp and a basal pit opposite the open apex.[4]
Uses

While not a chief staple in any large market product, Symplocaceae is used by some groups for specific purposes. One example of the uses of Symplocaceae is that the bark is used as a source of yellow dye in parts of South America.[2] Another use of Symplocaceae is that the roots of some species of the family are used to make tonics.[3]
Fossil record

The fossil record of Symplocaceae is well documented with fossils appearing in the current range as well as in Europe and further into North America. The fossil record does much to confirm the biogeographic connection between North America and East Asia which is already well established in the paleobotanical field. Much of the surviving fossil record is from pollen and the bony endocarps, but leaf imprints exist as well.[4]
References

Christenhusz, M. J. M. & Byng, J. W. (2016). "The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase". Phytotaxa. Magnolia Press. 261 (3): 201–217. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1.
Heywood V.H.; R. K. Brummitt; A. Culham & O. Serberg (2007). Flowering plant families of the world. Firefly books.
Headstrom, Richard (1978). Families of Flowering Plants. A.S.Barnes and Co.
Mai D.H.; E. Martinetto (2006). "A reconsideration of the diversity of Symplocos in the European Neogene on the basis of fruit morphology". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. Elsevier. 140 (1–2): 1–26. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2006.02.001.