Strelitziaceae

taxobox
name = Strelitziaceae


image_caption = "Ravenala madagascariensis"
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Monocots
unranked_ordo = Commelinids
ordo = Zingiberales
familia = Strelitziaceae
range_

range_map_caption = Strelitziaceae distribution map
range_map_caption = Strelitziaceae distribution map
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = See text.|

Strelitziaceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants. The plants are very similar in appearance and growth habit to members of the related families Heliconiaceae and Musaceae (banana family). The genera of Strelitziaceae have been included in Musaceae in some classifications, but are generally recognized as a separate family in more recent treatments such as the APG II system (2003). The APG II system assigns Strelitziaceae to the order Zingiberales in the commelinid clade.

Strelitziaceae includes three genera, all occurring in tropical to subtropical regions: "Strelitzia" with 5 species in southern Africa, "Ravenala" with a single species in Madagascar, and "Phenakospermum" with a single species in northern South America. The best known species is the bird-of-paradise flower "Strelitzia reginae", grown for its flowers worldwide in tropical and subtropical gardens, and a well known flower in floristry. The other species of "Strelitzia" have less colourful flowers and are grown instead for their striking foliage. Also grown for its foliage is the traveller's tree, "Ravenala madagascariensis".

External links

* [http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/orders/zingiberalesweb.htm#Strelitziaceae Strelitziaceae] in Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). [http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/welcome.html Angiosperm Phylogeny Website] . Version 7, May 2006 [and more or less continuously updated since] .
* [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/Strelitz.htm Strelitziaceae] in L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). " [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ The families of flowering plants] : descriptions, illustrations, identification, information retrieval." Version: 27th April 2006. http://delta-intkey.com.
* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Tree&id=4660&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock NCBI Taxonomy Browser]