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Lizard's-tail family
Saururaceae
ใใฏใใ็ง
A small family of ancient lineage belonging to the basal angiosperms. Consists of only 4 genera and 6 species. Placed in the order Piperales, near the earliest divergences of angiosperms.
Key Characteristics
- โNo petals or sepals (bracts become petaloid)
- โDistinctive strong odor
- โGrows in wetlands and shaded areas
- โPerennial spreading by rhizomes
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
Simple
Venation
Pinnate / Palmate
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Herb
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Stipules
Present
Aromatic
Aromatic
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Petal fusion
Free
Ovary position
Inferior / Superior
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Basal angiosperms > Piperales > Saururaceae
Divergence Era
Cretaceous (a very ancient lineage as basal angiosperms)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ใปRetains ancestral angiosperm characteristics as an ancient basal lineage