| Degeneria | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Degeneria vitiensis | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Degeneriaceae I.W.Bailey &A.C.Sm.[1] |
| Genus: | Degeneria I.W. Bailey &A.C.Sm. |
| Species | |
Degeneria is agenus offlowering plantsendemic toFiji. It is the only genus in the familyDegeneriaceae. TheAPG IV system of 2016 (unchanged from theAPG system of 1998, theAPG II system of 2003 and theAPG III system of 2009), recognizes this family, and assigns it to the orderMagnoliales in the clademagnoliids.[1][2]
Degeneria was named afterOtto Degener, who first foundD. vitiensis in 1942. Classical studies of native stands ofDegeneria from Vanua Levu and Viti Levu islands were conducted more than 30 years ago.[3][4][5]
A 45-cent stamp issued in 1988 depicted a flowering branch ofDegeneria vitiensis. This species appears onFiji's five-dollar bill. A one-dollar 1988 philatelic commemorated the discovery ofDegeneria roseiflora earlier in that same year.
The genus contains two species of trees, both native toFiji:[6][7]
The stage-specific movements of floral organs, including scent emissions of degenerias studied by Miller in 1989, are remarkably similar to those observed in other Magnoliales.[8][9][10] Further, the floral structure ofDegeneria is unusual, considered to be primitive among theflowering plants.[11] Thestamens are similar to those inAustrobaileya,Galbulimima, and someMagnoliaceae; they do not have distinguishable anther, filament, and connective, but instead are leaf-like, with two pairs of microsporangia embedded in the surface. There are three veins, rather than the single vein in the stamen of most flowering plants.[11] Thegynoecium develops in an unusual way, similar toWinteraceae, with laminal placentation, i.e., the young carpel is cup-shaped, and theovules develop on its upper surface. The margins of the carpel never fully fuse. A cleft remains filled with hairs, through which the pollen tubes grow towards the ovules.[11]
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