Magnoliaceae
Ancient flowering plant family with spiral floral arrangement.
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The Magnoliaceae family is characterized by flower parts arranged in spirals on a conical receptacle, a trait considered basal among angiosperms.[1] Within the family, the perianth consists of tepals that are not clearly differentiated into separate petals and sepals, and the flowers are typically fragrant, radially symmetric, and bisexual, though Kmeria and some Magnolia section Gynopodium species are exceptions.[1] Several morphological features that are consistent across the different genera provide evidence that Magnoliaceae forms a single evolutionary lineage.[1]
Scientific classification
- CladeTracheophytes
- CladeAngiosperms
- CladeMagnoliids
- OrderMagnoliales
- FamilyMagnoliaceae
Named by Juss.
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Magnoliaceae (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick Facts
- Number of genera
- 2 (Magnolia and Liriodendron) or up to 17, subject to debate
- Number of species
- About 300
- Pollination
- Beetle-pollinated (except Liriodendron, bee-pollinated)
- Seed dispersal
- Bird-dispersed (Magnolioideae) and wind-dispersed (Liriodendron)
Facts from the source article.
Biology and range
Extant species are widely distributed in temperate and tropical Asia, with about two-thirds of species there, and the remainder across the Americas.[2] Geographic distribution has become disjunct due to ice ages, continental drift, and mountain formation.[2] The foliage is arranged alternately on the stem, each leaf is undivided, and in some species the leaf blade is divided into lobes.[1] On the elongated receptacle, the carpels are typically many and separate from one another; together they develop into a clustered fruit composed of follicles.[1]
With the exception of Liriodendron, the seeds are covered by a fleshy layer and display colors from red to orange.[3] Beetles are the primary pollinators for Magnoliaceae flowers, but Liriodendron is an exception as its flowers are pollinated by bees.[3] To withstand the feeding activity of beetles that land and crawl on them, the carpels of Magnolia flowers are notably thickened.[3] Birds are the dispersal agents for seeds of the Magnolioideae subfamily, whereas Liriodendron relies on wind to disperse its seeds.[3]
What the specialist sources record
The Flora of China account notes that one co-author considers Magnoliaceae to include two monogeneric subfamilies, Magnolioideae with Magnolia and Liriodendroideae with Liriodendron.[4] Figlar's 2012 classification information states that taxonomists have long debated the classification of subfamily Magnolioideae, except for the distinct genus Liriodendron.[5] Figlar reports that James E. Dandy's 1927 system of Magnolioideae consisted of Magnolia, Manglietia, Michelia, Talauma, and several minor genera.[5] According to Figlar, Nooteboom's later system for Magnolioideae included just six genera and was widely followed except in China.[5]
Figlar notes that phylogenetic studies consistently showed Manglietia, Michelia, and minor genera nested among sections of Magnolia.[5] The North Carolina Extension Gardener account describes Liriodendron tulipifera as a member of Magnoliaceae native to eastern North America.[6]
References
- Wikipedia, "Magnoliaceae" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Zomlefer, "Guide to Flowering Plant Families", The University of North Carolina Press, 1994, p. 430 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Magnoliaceae" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: EPIC, "Global Conservation Gap Analysis of Magnolia", Botanic Gardens Conservation International (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Magnoliaceae" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Liriodendron tulipifera", www.fs.usda.gov (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "Magnoliaceae in Flora of China @ efloras.org", www.efloras.org. facts only, no text reused. efloras.org
- Figlar, "Magnolia Classification Information", www.magnoliasociety.org, June 2012. facts only, no text reused. magnoliasociety.org
- "Liriodendron tulipifera (Canary Whitehood, Canoewood, North American Whitewood, Tulip Poplar, Tulip Tree, Western Poplar, Whitewood, Yellow Poplar, Yellow-Poplar) North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox", plants. facts only, no text reused. plants.ces.ncsu.edu
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Magnoliaceae (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Magnoliaceae (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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