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Liane Sandpaper
Tetracera scandens
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A woody climber distributed in tropical Asia. Some species occur naturally in Okinawa, Japan. The leaves have a sandpaper-like rough texture. Bears white flowers.
Identification Points
- βLeaves coriaceous with a sandpaper-like rough surface
- βWhite 5-petaled flowers in panicles
- βClimbing habit, scrambling over vegetation at forest edges
Habitat
Tropical and subtropical forest edges (Okinawa, Nansei Islands)
Season
Springβsummer (flowers)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Vine
Leaf type
Simple
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Petal count
5 petals
Petal fusion
Free
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Ovary position
Superior
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite
Stamen count
3-4
Phylogenetic Positionγγ―γ’γγη§ β
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Dilleniales > Dilleniaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous (approx. 85 million years ago)
Evolution Notes
Dilleniaceae is an early-diverging lineage of eudicots, exhibiting a primitive floral form with 5 petals and numerous stamens.
View on evolution timeline βSources & References
AI-generated, needs verification