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Oleaster family
Elaeagnaceae
グミ科
A family of about 3 genera and 90 species including Elaeagnus and Shepherdia, distributed in temperate to subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Associates with the actinobacterium Frankia in root nodules for nitrogen fixation. Characterized by dense silvery-white to brownish lepidote scales on leaves and fruits.
Key Characteristics
- ●Dense silvery-white or brownish lepidote scales on leaves and fruits
- ●Root nodules with the actinobacterium Frankia for nitrogen fixation
- ●Flowers tubular, 4-lobed, apetalous (sepals petaloid)
- ●Fruits are pseudocarps (the hypanthium becomes fleshy)
- ●Shrubs to trees, rarely climbing
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
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Tree
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Stipules
Absent
Petal count
3 petals
Petal fusion
Free / Fused
Ovary position
Superior
Stamen count
1-2
Plant sex
Dioecious / Hermaphrodite / Monoecious
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Rosids > Rosales > Elaeagnaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene (approx. 55 million years ago)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Acquisition of nitrogen fixation through symbiosis with the actinobacterium Frankia
- ・Adaptation to arid and saline environments through lepidote scales
Plants in Oleaster family on this site
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