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Daphniphyllum family
Daphniphyllaceae
ユズリハ科
A monotypic family of about 30 species in the genus Daphniphyllum, distributed from East to Southeast Asia as evergreen trees or shrubs. In Japan, Daphniphyllum macropodum is well known for its use in New Year decorations. Contains unique Daphniphyllum alkaloids and occupies a phylogenetically isolated position.
Key Characteristics
- ●Evergreen trees or shrubs
- ●Leaves large, coriaceous, alternate
- ●Flowers small, apetalous, unisexual
- ●Dioecious
- ●Drupes (ripening to dark blue-black)
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Tree
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Stipules
Absent
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Petal count
3 petals / 4 petals / 5 petals / 6 petals
Ovary position
Inferior
Stamen count
1-2 / 3-4 / 5 / 6
Plant sex
Dioecious
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Saxifragales > Daphniphyllaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Evolution of unique Daphniphyllum alkaloids as defensive compounds
- ・Distributional specialization to East and Southeast Asia
Plants in Daphniphyllum family on this site
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