Sherwin Carlquist, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden; Pomona College

Wood Anatomy of Cneoraceae: Ecology, Relationships, and Generic Definition

DOI

10.5642/aliso.19881201.03

First Page

Last Page

Abstract

Wood anatomy of the three species of Cneorurm is described qualitatively and quantitatively. The species differ in features related to ecology and form a clear series in this regard. The wood features of the family can all be matched by some Rutaceae and Simarubaceae, and the characteristics of Cneoraceae are listed in this connection. Nearly as many features are shared by Cneoraceae with Anacardiaceae and Sapindaceae; certain distinctive features may be found in somewhat more distant families, such as Oxalidaceae. Resemblances between Cneoraceae and Euphorbiaceae are attributed at least in part to the fact that Euphorbiaceae comprise a highly heterogeneous family with respect to wood anatomy. Wood anatomy of the three species of Cneorurm diverges markedly. These differences when tabulated show that the Cuban species C. trimerum is the most distinctive. Cneorum pulverulentum (Canary Islands) and C. tricoccon (northwestern Mediterranean coasts), although distinct in wood anatomy, resemble each other more closely than they resemble C. trimerum. Despite the distinctive tetramerous flowers and hexacolpate pollen of C. pulverulentum, a single genus seems advisable; C. trimerum cannot be readily segregated on the basis of gross morphology.

Recommended Citation

Carlquist, Sherwin (1988) "Wood Anatomy of Cneoraceae: Ecology, Relationships, and Generic Definition," Aliso: A Journal of Systematic and Floristic Botany: Vol. 12: Iss. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://scholarship.claremont.edu/aliso/vol12/iss1/3