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Datisca family
Datiscaceae
ใใใฃในใซ็ง
A small family of only two species with a disjunct distribution between the eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia/India and North America. Large perennial herbs with unisexual flowers. Roots host Frankia for nitrogen fixation. Belongs to Cucurbitales, related to Begoniaceae and Cucurbitaceae.
Key Characteristics
- โLarge perennial herbs (1โ2 m tall)
- โLeaves are deeply divided in a pinnately compound manner
- โFlowers are unisexual, lacking petals or with small petals
- โFrankia actinobacteria form root symbiosis for nitrogen fixation
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values โ multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf type
Compound
Venation
Pinnate
Leaf margin
Dentate
Growth form
Herb
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Compound type
Pinnate
Stipules
Absent
Petal count
3 petals / 4 petals / 5 petals / 6 petals / Many
Ovary position
Inferior
Stamen count
3-4 / 5 / 6 / 7-10
Plant sex
Dioecious / Monoecious
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Cucurbitales > Datiscaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ใปIndependent acquisition of nitrogen-fixing symbiosis within Cucurbitales
- ใปFormation of disjunct distribution between the Old and New Worlds
Plants in Datisca family on this site
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