Lecythidaceae Explained

The Lecythidaceae comprise a family of about 20 genera and 250–300 species of woody plants native to tropical South America, Africa (including Madagascar), Asia and Australia.

The most important member of the family in world trade is the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), valued for its edible nuts; the paradise nut (Lecythis species) is also eaten.

Taxonomy

According to molecular analysis of Lecythidaceae, including work by Mori et al. (2007),^[1] subfamilies include:

Barringtonioidea

Previously Barringtoniaceae; also sensu Takhtajan 1997;^[2] this subfamily was also called Planchonioideae (which included Barringtonia). Genera are restricted to the Old World tropics.

1. Barringtonia J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (synonym Abdulmajidia Whitmore)
2. Careya Roxb.
3. Chydenanthus Miers
4. Petersianthus Merr.
5. Planchonia Blume

FoetidioideaePreviously Foetidiaceae^[2] from Madagascar is monogeneric:

• Foetidia Comm. ex Lam.

Lecythidoideae

Genera restricted to the New World tropics.

1. Allantoma Miers
2. Bertholletia Bonpl.
3. Cariniana Casar.
4. Corythophora R.Knuth
5. Couratari Aubl.
6. Couroupita Aubl.
7. Eschweilera Mart. ex DC.
8. Grias L.
9. Gustavia L.
10. Lecythis Loefl.

Scytopetaloideae

The APG II system of 2003 included genera from the family Scytopetalaceae and others

1. Asteranthos Desf., also as Asteranthaceae^[2]
2. Brazzeia Verc.
3. Oubanguia Baill.
4. Pierrina Engl.
5. Rhaptopetalum Oliv.
6. Scytopetalum Engl.

Napoleonaeoideae

Previously as family Napoleonaeaceae;^[2] species are native to Africa.

1. Crateranthus Baker f., incertae sedis according to Takhtajan,
2. Napoleonaea P.Beauv.

External links

• Lecythidaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants. http://delta-intkey.com
• Barringtoniaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants. http://delta-intkey.com
• Foetidiaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants. http://delta-intkey.com
• Asteranthaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants. http://delta-intkey.com
• Napoleonaeaceae in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants. http://delta-intkey.com
• The Lecythidaceae Pages by Scott A. Mori and Ghillean T. Prance
• Toa Alta, Puerto Rico
• Lecythidaceae in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database
• Lecythidaceae Pages

Notes and References

1. Mori . S. A. . Tsou . C. -H. . Wu . C. -C. . Cronholm . B. . Anderberg . A. A. . Evolution of Lecythidaceae with an emphasis on the circumscription of neotropical genera: Information from combined ndhF and trnL-F sequence data . 10.3732/ajb.94.3.289 . American Journal of Botany . 94 . 3 . 289–301 . 2007 . 21636402. free .
2. Book: Takhtajan, A.. Diversity and classification of flowering plants. 1997. 0-231-10098-1.