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Fig-marigold family
Aizoaceae Martinov
ツルナ科
A family of about 1,800 species centered in southern Africa, with many species having succulent leaves. In Japan, Tetragonia tetragonioides (New Zealand spinach) grows natively on coasts, and Carpobrotus, Lampranthus, and others are cultivated or naturalized. The family is also known for 'living stones' (Lithops) adapted to stony, arid environments.
Key Characteristics
- ●Leaves are mostly succulent and often glossy
- ●Numerous petal-like sepals or modified staminodial filaments are conspicuous
- ●Fruit is a berry or capsule; many have hygrochastic capsules that open when wet (rain-dispersed)
- ●Many species perform CAM photosynthesis
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate / Opposite
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate / Palmate
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Herb
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Stipules
Present / Absent
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Petal count
3 petals / Many
Petal fusion
Free / Fused
Ovary position
Superior / Inferior / Half-inferior
Stamen count
1-2
Plant sex
Dioecious / Hermaphrodite / Monoecious
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core Eudicots > Caryophyllales > Aizoaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene (ca. 55 million years ago)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Acquisition of CAM photosynthesis for adaptation to extremely arid environments
- ・Development of water storage through leaf succulence
- ・Explosive diversification in the Karoo region of southern Africa
Plants in Fig-marigold family on this site
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