Family PARACRYPHIACEAE
Synonyms: Quintiniaceae APNI*
Sphenostemonaceae APNI*
Description: Trees or shrubs, sometimes vines.
Leaves alternate or subopposite to (sub)whorled, sometimes spiral, simple, petiolate, lamina leathery, pinnately veined, margin entire or serrate; stipules absent.
Inflorescences terminal or axillary, racemose or paniculate (compound spikes). Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual or unisexual, 4- or 5-merous. Perianth differentiated into (4 or) 5 free sepals and (4 or) 5 free, caducous petals (Quintinia) or 4 free, decussate, widely imbricate, mostly hooded sepals and 0 or 4 free, caducous (at anthesis) petals similar to the sepals but more fleshy in texture (Sphenostemon) or with undifferentiated perianth of 4 free, decussate, concave, imbricate, caducous segments (sometimes interpreted as tepals, the outerrmost 1 the largest and ± enclosing the other 3) (Paracryphia). Stamens 4–13; filaments free, sometimes shorter than anthers; anthers 2-locular, dehiscing by longitudinal slits, introrse. Disc present. Ovary inferior (Quintinia) or superior (Sphenostemon, Paracryphia), 3–5- or 8–15-locular; ovules numerous or 4 per locule.
Fruit a septical capsule.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 3 genera, 36 species, SW Pacific; Philippines to Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand. Australia: 2 genera, 5 species, Qld, N.S.W.
External links:
Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (Family: Paracryphiaceae, Order: Paracryphiales)
Wikipedia Includes previously accepted families Quintiniaceae (Quintinia was misplaced in the family Escalloniaceae in Fl. NSW Vol. 3, 1992) and Sphenostemonaceae.
Text by P.G. Kodela, March 2017
Taxon concept:
| One genus in NSW: Quintinia |
|
