Morphology of the family Rhoipteleaceae in relation to its systematic position

Chang Chin-Yu

Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:1981-05-18 Published:1981-05-18
Contact: Chang Chin-Yu

Abstract:

The present paper is devoted to a study of the basic morphological and anatomical

characteristics of the endemic family Rhoipteleaceae from China. The fundamental

pattern of the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the Rhoipteleaceae is

similar to those of the Juglandaceae in wood anatomy, resinous peltate scales, apetaly,

bicarpellate pistils, one-seeded fruits and exalbuminous seeds. Whereas Rhoipteleaceae

has stipules; perfect flowers with superior 2-loculed ovaries, anatropous ovules and two

integuments; vessel elements of the secondary xylem with the scalariform perforation,

and 2–8 (18) pores on the oblique plate being observable; vascular rays heterocellular

and tricolporate pollen. The above characteristics–at least most of them, agree

pretty well with those depicted by Manning in his “Pre-Juglandaceae”. It is quite

possible that the Juglandaceae is derived from “Pre-Juglandaceae”by way of the

Rhoipteleaceae, as the morphological and anatomical features as indicated above tend to

show that the Rhoipteleaceae is more primitive than Juglandaceae.

The Rhoipteleaceae was previously considered as related to the Betulaceae or

Ulmaceae, a view, which the present study does not prove to be acceptable. Both Takh-

tajan (1969) and Cronquist (1968) pointed out that the Juglandales, Urticales, Myrica-

les, Fagales are all direct derivatives from the Hamamelidales. However, since the

Rhoipteleaceae is simillar to the Betulaceae in wood anatomy and pollen, it seems that

there too could have certain relationships between the Rhoipteleaceae and the Betula-

ceae in the course of evolution.

Chang Chin-Yu. Morphology of the family Rhoipteleaceae in relation to its systematic position[J]. .

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