Simaroubaceae

Simaroubaceae
Ailanthus altissima
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Simaroubaceae DC.[1]
Genera
See text.
Distribution of the family Simaroubaceae.
Synonyms
Ailanthaceae J.Agardh Castelaceae J.Agardh Holacanthaceae Jadin, nom. inval. Leitneriaceae Benth. & Hook.f., nom. cons. Simabaceae Horan. Soulameaceae Endl.[1]

The Simaroubaceae are a small, mostly tropical, family in the order Sapindales. In recent decades, it has been subject to much taxonomic debate, with several small families being split off. A molecular phylogeny of the family was published in 2007, greatly clarifying relationships within the family.^[2] Together with chemical characteristics such as the occurrence of petroselinic acid in Picrasma^[3] in contrast to other members of the family such as Ailanthus^[4] this indicates the existence of a subgroup in the family with Picrasma, Holacantha, and Castela.

The best-known species is the temperate Chinese tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima, which has become a cosmopolitan urban weed tree.

Well-known genera in the family include the tropical Quassia and Simarouba.

Genera

Ailanthus Desf. Amaroria A.Gray Brucea J.F.Mill. Castela Turpin Eurycoma Jack Gymnostemon Aubrév. & Pellegr. Hannoa Planch.

Iridosma Aubrév. & Pellegr. Laumoniera Noot. Leitneria Chapm. Nothospondias Engl. Odyendea Pierre ex Engl. Perriera Courchet Picrasma Blume

Picrolemma Hook.f. Pierreodendron Engl. Quassia L. Samadera Gaertn. Simaba Aubl. Simarouba Aubl. Soulamea Lam.[5]

Excluded genera

Allantospermum Forman → Ixonanthaceae Alvaradoa Liebm. → Picramniaceae Desbordesia Pierre ex Tiegh. → Irvingiaceae Harrisonia R.Br. ex A.Juss. → Rutaceae Irvingia Hook.f. → Irvingiaceae

Kirkia Oliv. → Kirkiaceae Klainedoxa Pierre ex Engl. → Irvingiaceae Picramnia Sw. → Picramniaceae Pleiokirkia Capuron → Kirkiaceae Recchia Sessé & Moc. ex DC. → Surianaceae[6]

References

1. "Family: Simaroubaceae DC., nom. cons.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2003-01-17. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
2. Clayton, Joshua W.; Edwino S. Fernando; Pamela S. Soltis; Douglas E. Soltis (2007). "Molecular phylogeny of the tree-of-heaven family (Simaroubaceae) based on chloroplast and nuclear markers". International Journal of Plant Sciences 168 (9): 1325–1339. doi:10.1086/521796.
3. Tsujimoto, M. and Koyanagi, H. (1933) Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan 8, 161
4. T. Stuhlfauth, H. Fock, H. Huber, K. Klug: The distribution of fatty acids including petroselinic and tariric acids in the fruit and seed oils of the Pittosporaceae, Araliaceae, Umbelliferae, Simarubaceae and Rutaceae. In: Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 13, 1985, S. 447–453, doi:10.1016/0305-1978(85)90091-2.
5. "GRIN Genera of Simaroubaceae". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
6. "GRIN genera sometimes placed in Simaroubaceae". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-04-19.

External links

Media related to Simaroubaceae at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Simaroubaceae at Wikispecies