Lauraceae
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Lauraceae |
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Links to Genus Directory of Images:
Distribution: Widespread in subtropical and tropical regions, especially
in Brazil and SE Asia.
Economic
Uses: As the source of cinnamon, sassafras,
camphor, avocado and laurel.
Defining
Features of Interest: Anthers open
from base upward by flaps of tissue. Family is highly aromatic.
Fossil Evidence: Wood in
the Upper Cretaceaous and Eocene ( in Yellowstone Park Wyoming
and in California).
Floral Features : Yellow or greenish, actinomorphic, perfect or unisexual, small. Inflorescence as cymes, heads, panicles, racemes or spikes. Perigynous or sometimes epigynous. Androecium with filaments sometimes adnate to perianth forming an hypanthium and inner anthers as staminodes (this condition not shown in floral formula above).
Fruit and Seed Features : A berry or drupe. Seed has large, oily embryo.Endosperm is lacking.
Vegetative Features : Habit is as shrubs or trees, rarely a parasitic herb. Leaves are evergreen or sometimes deciduous, simple, entire or lobed and alternate. Rarely they are opposite, whorled or lacking. Stipules are lacking.
