Taxonomy of Flowering Plants - LECTURE NOTES - Spring, 1998
Hugh D. Wilson - rm. 306, Butler Hall
9 March 1998
The Dilleniidae
Family Overview - The Theales

Clusiaceae (Guttiferae) - the St. John's Wort Family

Diversity:  A family of 50 genera and over 1,000 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees with two subfamilies, the Clusioideae and Hypericoideae with the latter often treated as a distinct family (Hypericaceae).

Distribution:  Broadly distributed but elements of the Hypericoideae more common North temperate areas and the typical subfamily - Clusioideae - centered in the tropics.

Floral structure:

 
 

Significant features:  With very few exceptions plants of the Clusiaceae (s. lat.) show opposite, simple, and entire leaves and the numerous stamens positioned in fascicles or clusters.
 
 

   Hypericum - with fascicled stamens
 

Hypericum - another species with similar androecium - from the  Universitsy of Hawaii

  Hypercium - opposite, entire and - in this case - sessile leaves

 
  The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) shows a structure common the taxa of subfamily Clusioideae, an aril ("a pulpy or fleshy appendage, outgrouth or outer covering of a seed - often derived from the funiculus") which is the only part consumed in this "best of tropical fruits".
 

More information on the Clusiaceae (or Hypericaceae)


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