| Cunoniaceae | |
|---|---|
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| Eucryphia in flower | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Cunoniaceae R.Br.[2] |
| Genera | |
27 – see text[3] | |
| Synonyms[4] | |
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Cunoniaceae is a family of 27genera and about 335species[5] ofwoody plants in the orderOxalidales, mostly found in the tropical and wet temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere. The greatest diversity of genera are inAustralia andTasmania (15 genera),New Guinea (9 genera), andNew Caledonia (7 genera). The family is also present inCentral America,South America, the Caribbean, Malesia, the islands of the South Pacific,Madagascar and surrounding islands. The family is absent from mainland Asia except from Peninsular Malaysia, and almost absent from mainland Africa apart from two species from Southern Africa (Cunonia capensis andPlatylophus trifoliatus). Several of the genera have remarkable disjunct ranges, found on more than one continent, e.g.Cunonia (Southern Africa and New Caledonia),Eucryphia (Australia and South America)Weinmannia (The Americas and the Mascarenes).
The family includestrees andshrubs; most areevergreen but a few aredeciduous. Theleaves are opposite or whorled (alternate inDavidsonia), and simple or compound (pinnate or palmate), with entire or toothed margin, and often with conspicuousstipules (interpetiolar or intrapetiolar). Theflowers have four or five (rarely three or up to ten)sepals andpetals. Thefruit is usually a woody capsule or a follicle containing several smallseeds.
The family has a rich fossil record in Australia[6] and fossil representatives are known from the Northern Hemisphere.Platydiscus peltatus was found inUpper Cretaceous rocks from Sweden and is likely a member of the Cunoniaceae.[7] An earlier possible fossil member is from theCenomanian.Tropidogyne, found inBurmese amber, has flowers that strongly resemble the extantCeratopetalum.[8]
The genera of the family have been divided into tribes.[9][5]
Tribe Spiraeanthemeae
Tribe Schizomerieae
Tribe Geissoieae
Tribe Caldcluvieae
Tribe Codieae Tribe Cunonieae
| Unplaced to tribe
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{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)| National | |
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| Other | |
