Order:
Saxifragales
Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants)
> Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots
There are 15 families, of which seven are encountered in southern Africa, with
Crassulaceae containing the vast
majority of species. Worldwide there are 112 genera and about 2500 species, of
which eight genera and 276
species are native to southern Africa, mainly in fynbos. In addition, an additional 24 genera and 71
species are cultivated in the region.
Families encountered in southern Africa
Crassulaceae
Thirty-four genera and 1370 species (cosmopolitan
except Australia and Western Pacific) of which six genera and 272
species are native to southern Africa.
In addition, eight genera and 40 species are cultivated in southern
Africa. |
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Daphniphyllaceae
Daphniphyllum glaucescens (native to Malaysia and
Indonesia) and Daphniphyllum macropodum (Yuzuri-ha) (native to Japan,
Korea and China) are cultivated in southern Africa. Daphniphyllum was
previously placed in the Euphorbiaceae (e.g. by Glen, 2002). |
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Grossulariaceae (current and gooseberry family)
Ribes (currents and gooseberries) is the sole genus
in this family and although not native to southern Africa, four species are cultivated
in the region. Ribes has been placed in the
Escalloniaceae previously (e.g. in
Glen, 2002). |
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Hamamelidaceae (witch-hazel
family)
Worldwide there are about 30 genera and 100 species,
occurring sporadically over temperate and subtropical regions of both
hemispheres. One genus and three species are native to southern Africa.
An additional six genera and nine species are cultivated in the region. |
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Iteaceae Two genera and 18 species,
native to eastern North America, East and southern Africa, and SE Asia. One
species native to southern Africa: Choristylis rhamnoides (Choristylis
is placed in Escaloniaceae on
POSA
website but in Iteaceae on
Angiosperm Phylogeny website). |
|
Paeoniaceae
One genus, Paeonia, with 33 species, distributed in the north
temperate regions extending as far south as the coastal regions of North
Africa. Paeonia lactiflora is cultivated in southern Africa as a garden ornamental. |
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Saxifragaceae
Not native to southern Africa, but seven genera and 15 species are
cultivated in the region. |
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Families not encountered in southern Africa: Altingiaceae,
Aphanopetalaceae, Cercidiphyllaceae, Cynomoriaceae, Haloragaceae,
Penthoraceae, Peridiscaceae, Pterostemonaceae, Tetracarpaeaceae
Publications
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