Abstract:

 Diplopanax is a genus described by H. Handel-Mazzetti in 1933 according to a

flowered specimen.  It was originally considered as belonging to the family Araliaceae.

But fruit characters of this genus such as very large in size, oblong-ovoid in shape,

and containing only one seed in a locule which has a curved embryo and very hard

when dry etc., differ greatly from all other araliaceous plants, and evidently resemble

those of the cornaceous genus Mastixia Bl.  In addition, the fruit is very similar to

the cornaceous fossil genus Tectocarya F. Kirchh., from which it may be distinguished

by the absence of 2 germinate pores in the  endocarp.   Consequently,  the  present

author tends to consider that the genus Diplopanax Hand.-Mazz. is best placed in

Cornaceae, not in Araliaceae.