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Tanner's tree family
Coriariaceae
ドクウツギ科
A small family of about 1 genus and 15 species. Coriaria japonica is native to Japan. The entire plant contains the toxic compound coriamyrtin, and accidental poisoning from fruit ingestion is well documented. Characterized by opposite leaves and distinctive inflorescences.
Key Characteristics
- ●Leaves are opposite or whorled, with three veins from the base
- ●Flowers are small, pentamerous; petals become fleshy after flowering and enclose the fruit
- ●Entire plant is poisonous, containing the neurotoxin coriamyrtin
- ●Nitrogen fixation through symbiosis with Frankia
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Opposite / Whorled
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Parallel / Palmate
Leaf margin
Dentate / Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Tree
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Stipules
Present
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Petal count
Many
Ovary position
Superior
Stamen count
5
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite / Monoecious
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Cucurbitales > Coriariaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (about 70–60 million years ago)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Evolution of neurotoxins such as coriamyrtin (defense against herbivores)
- ・Evolution of a unique pseudofruit structure where petals become fleshy
Plants in Tanner's tree family on this site
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