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Aralia family
Araliaceae
ウコギ科
A family including Aralia, Fatsia, Chengiopanax, Dendropanax, Hedera, and ginseng (Panax). About 43 genera and 1,500 species are known, widely distributed in tropical to temperate regions. Confirmed as closely related to Apiaceae under the APG system.
Key Characteristics
- ●Flowers small, in umbellate inflorescences
- ●Petals 5 (rarely 4)
- ●Fruits are berries (drupes) dispersed by birds
- ●Leaves mostly palmately or pinnately compound
- ●Stems and leaves often with hairs or spines
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate / Opposite / Whorled
Leaf type
Simple / Compound
Venation
Pinnate / Palmate
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Tree / Vine / Herb
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Compound type
Ternate / Pinnate / Palmate
Leaf dissection
Dissected / Undivided
Stipules
Present / Absent
Aromatic
Aromatic / None
Petal count
6 petals
Ovary position
Half-inferior / Inferior / Superior
Stamen count
3-4 / 5
Plant sex
Dioecious / Hermaphrodite / Monoecious
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Apiales > Araliaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (ca. 70 Ma onwards)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Evolution of umbellate inflorescences from a common ancestor with Apiaceae
- ・Widespread distribution from tropics to temperate regions via bird dispersal of fleshy fruits
Plants in Aralia family on this site
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