PBIO 250 Lecture Notes

James L. Reveal

Norton-Brown Herbarium, University of Maryland

Selected Families of Angiosperms: Hamalelididae

Hamamelidales Griseb., 1854

Platanaceae J. Lestib. ex Dumort., 1829: Deciduous trees with alternate, simple or palmately lobed leaves and bisexual or unisexual flowers. CA3-8 CO3-8 A3-8 GS6-9. 1 genus, 7 species. North America, Indochina. Ornamental and timber. Full description from Watson & Dallwitz; family synonymy from Reveal; list of genera from Kew; family synopses from the University of Hawaii and Utah State.

Hamamelidaceae R. Br., 1818: Trees or shrubs with alternate, simple or palmately lobed leaves and bisexual or unisexual flowers bearing an inferior or superior compound ovary. CA(4-5) CO4-5 A4-5 GIS (2). 29 genera, 115 species; 14 of the genera are monospecific. Mostly subtropical with some in temperate regions. Timber, ornamental and medicinal. A few used for their scent. Continuing work on this family is demonstrating that the Altingiaceae Lindl. (including Altingia, Liquidambar and Semiliquidambar) is not only a distinct family but belongs to its own order, Altingiales Reveal & Doweld. Doweld suggests the family is actually a member of the Dilleniidae rather than the Hamamelididae. The Rhodoleiaceae Nakai is sometimes segregated as is the newly proposed family Eubucklandiaceae Reveal & Doweld; these are considered members of the Hamamelididae, however. The family Disanthaceae Nakai may well prove to be worthy of recognition, but presently the Disanthoideae and Hamamelidoideae Burnett are basically the only subfamilies remaining in Hamamelidaceae. Full description from Watson & Dallwitz; family synonymy from Reveal; list of genera from Kew; family synopsis from the University of Hawaii.

Urticales Dumort., 1829 - Note: Current evident suggests the Urticales are a member of the Rosidae rather than the Hamamelididae.

Ulmaceae Mirb., 1815: Trees or shrubs with watery sap, oblique leaf bases and fruit an evenly winged samara or drupe. CA(4-8) CO0 A4-8 GS1(2). 16 genera, 175 species. Widespread, mainly in temperate regions. Timber, fiber and ornamentals. Two subfamilies, Ulmoideae (Mirb.) Arn. (fruit a samara) and Celtidoideae A. Rich. ex Darl. (fruit a drupe), the latter often distinguished as Celtidaceae Link. (10 genera). Full description from Watson & Dallwitz; family synonymy from Reveal; list of genera from Kew; family synopsis from the University of Hawaii and Utah State.

Cannabaceae Endl., 1837: Dioecious herbs with opposite leaves and unisexual flowers bearing a unilocular ovary producing an achene. CA5 CO0 A5 G0 and CA5 CO0 A0 GS1. 2 genera, 3 species. Temperate Eurasia and North America. Humulus (2 species) is hops; Cannabis is marijuana. Hemp also from the latter, the oil used in varnishes, foods, soaps, etc., the seeds occasionally used in birdseed. Family name occasionally incorrectly written "Cannabidaceae" but the above orthography must be used as it is conserved. Full description from Watson & Dallwitz; family synonymy from Reveal; list of genera from Kew; family synopses from the University of Hawaii and Utah State.

Moraceae Link, 1831: Trees or shrubs, rarely herbs, with milky sap, unisexual flowers and 2 stigmas. CA4 CO0 A4 G0 and CA4 CO0 A0 GIS2. 38 genera, 1100 species. Tropical and warm-temperate regions. Some used for timber, rubber, paper and cultivated ornaments. The silk worm eats Morus. The family is typically divided into five tribes: Moreae Dumort., Artocarpeae Lam. & DC., Antiarideae Dumort., Dorstenieae Dumort. and Ficeae Bercht. & J. Presl. Full description from Watson & Dallwitz; family synonymy from Reveal; list of genera from Kew; family synoposes from the University of Hawaii and Utah State.

Urticaceae Juss., 1789: Trees or herbs occasionally with stinging hairs, cymose inflorescences on short axillary shots of numerous flowers, and a unilocular ovary with a single style. CA4-5 CO0 A4-5 G0 and CA4-5 CO0 A0 GS1. 48 genera, 1100 species. Cosmopolitan with numerous genera and species of tropical trees. A few used for fiber, edible and as ornamentals. Stinging nettle belongs to this family. The family if typically divided into five tribes: Urticeae Lam. & DC., Elatostemeae Gaudich. ex Benn., Boehmerieae Gaudich. ex Benn., Parietarieae Bercht. & J. Presl and Forsskaoleeae Gaudich. ex Benn. A Full description from Watson & Dallwitz; family synonymy from Reveal; list of genera from Kew; University of Hawaii and Utah State.

Juglandales Dumort., 1829 - Note: Current evident suggests the Juglandales are a member of the Rosidae rather than the Hamamelididae (fide Bremer et al.) although this view is not supported by Takhtajan (1997).

Juglandaceae A. Rich. ex Kunth, 1824: Deciduous trees with alternate, pinnately compound leaves and unisexual flowering with the staminate flowers in catkins and pistillate flowers with inferior ovaries. CA3-6 CO0 A3-many G0 and CA4 CO0 A0 GI (2-3). 8 genera, 60 species. Warm temperate and tropical Eurasia and America. Timber and nuts (Carya, Juglans), ornamentals. The family is divided into three, well-defined subfamilies: Platycarioideae, Engelhardtioideae and Juglandoideae Eaton. Full description from Watson & Dallwitz; a href="http://www.inform.umd.edu/PBIO/crofamsyn/Juglandaceae.html">family synonymy from Reveal; list of genera from Kew; family synopses from the University of Hawaii and Utah State.

Fagales Engl., 1892 - Note: Current evident suggests the Fagales are a member of the Rosidae rather than the Hamamelididae (fide Bremer et al.) although this view is not supported by Takhtajan (1997).

Fagaceae Dumort., 1829: Trees or shrubs with alternate leaves and the fruit subtended by a cupule. CA4-7 CO0 A4-40 G0 and CA4-6 CO0 A0 GI(3-6). 8 genera, 800 genera. Widespread except for tropical and southern Africa. Oak is often dominant in northern forests and co-dominant (with beech) in southern hemisphere. Important timber, food and cultivated plants, including natural cork. The genus Quercus is particularly large (perhaps 400 species) and taxonomically difficult. The family may be divided into four subfamilies: Quercoideae Orsted., Trigonobalanoideae, Castaneoideae Orsted. and Fagoideae K. Koch. Most modern authors accept Nothofagaceae Kupr. as a distinct family, the 37 species being known as the southern beeches. Full description from Watson & Dallwitz; family synonymy from Reveal; list of genera from Kew; family synopses from the University of Hawaii and Utah State. See also Cardillo & Samuels.

Betulaceae Gray 1821: Deciduous trees or shrubs with simple, serrate leaves and staminate flowers in catkins. CA0 or 4 CO0 A2-4 G0 and CA0 CO0 A0 GI(2). 6 genera, 120 species. Temperate regions and tropical mountains. Used for timber, nuts and ornamentals. Three subfamilies (Betuloideae Rich. ex Arn., Coryloideae Hook.f., and Carpinoideae) are generally recognized although some accept Corylaceae and Carpinaceae as distinct families. Full description from Watson & Dallwitz; family synonymy from Reveal; list of genera from Kew; family synopses from the University of Hawaii and Utah State.

Last revised: 23 Jan 1999