Lecythidaceae

Taxobox
name = Lecythidaceae


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Flower of "Barringtonia asiatica" (futu) on Tongatapu
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Ericales
familia = Lecythidaceae
familia_authority = A.Rich.
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = See text.

The Lecythidaceae comprise a family of about 20 genera and 250-300 species of woody plants native to tropical South America and Madagascar.

According to the most recent molecular analysis of Lecythidaceae (Mori, S. A., C.-C. Tsou, C.-C. Wu, B. Cronholm & A. Anderberg. 2007. Evolution of Lecythidaceae with an emphasis on the circumscription of Neotropical genera: information from combined "ndh"F and "trn"L-F sequence data. Amer. J. Bot. 94(3): 289-301) there are three subfamilies:
*Foetidioideae (Foetidiaceae). Madagascar. Includes only "Foetidia".
*Planchonioideae (including Barringtoniaceae). Restricted to the Old World tropics.
*Lecythidoideae (Lecythidaceae). Restricted to the New World tropics.

In the Mori et al. (2007) study, two other families sometimes included in Lecythidaceae, the Scytopetalaceae and Napoleonaeaceae are hypothesized as most closely related to Lecythidaceae.

More detailed information about Lecythidaceae, especially the New World taxa, can be found at the [http://sweetgum.nybg.org/lp/index.html Lecythidaceae Pages] .

The most important member of the family in world trade is the Brazil nut ("Bertholletia excelsa"), valued for its edible nuts; the Paradise nut ("Lecythis" species) is also eaten.

The APG II system of 2003 includes genera from the family Scytopetalaceae in the Lecythidaceae, including "Rhaptopetalum" and "Brazzeia".

List of genera

* "Abdulmajidia" Whitmore, also as Barringtoniaceae "sensu" Takhtajan 1997 cite book| last = Takhtajan| first = A.| title = Diversity and classification of flowering plants| date = 1997| isbn = 0-231-10098-1]
* "Allantoma" Miers
* "Asteranthos" Desf., also as Asteranthaceae
* "Barringtonia" J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., also as Barringtoniaceae
* "Bertholletia" Bonpl.
* "Careya" Roxb., also as Barringtoniaceae
* "Cariniana" Casar.
* "Chydenanthus" Miers, also as Barringtoniaceae
* "Corythophora" R.Knuth
* "Couratari" Aubl.
* "Couroupita" Aubl.
* "Crateranthus" Baker f., "incertae sedis" according Takhtajan, perhaps Napoleonaeaceae
* "Eschweilera" Mart. ex DC.
* "Foetidia" Comm. ex Lam., also as Foetidiaceae
* "Grias" L.
* "Gustavia" L.
* "Lecythis" Loefl.
* "Napoleonaea" P.Beauv., also as Napoleonaeaceae
* "Petersianthus" Merr., also as Barringtoniaceae
* "Planchonia" Blume, also as Barringtoniaceae

References

External links

* [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/lecythid.htm Lecythidaceae] in [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.] http://delta-intkey.com
* [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/barringt.htm Barringtoniaceae] in [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.] http://delta-intkey.com
* [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/foetidia.htm Foetidiaceae] in [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.] http://delta-intkey.com
* [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/asterant.htm Asteranthaceae] in [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.] http://delta-intkey.com
* [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/napoleon.htm Napoleonaeaceae] in [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.] http://delta-intkey.com

* [http://sweetgum.nybg.org/lp/index.html The Lecythidaceae Pages] by Scott A. Mori and Ghillean T. Prance