Schisandraceae Blume

Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Morphology General Habit

Evergreen trees and shrubs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, spirally arranged, bunched together at ends of branches, simple, entire, leathery, pellucid gland dots present or not, essential oil cells emitting 'peppery' scent, venation pinnate; estipulate; swelling present at base of petiole

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary or inflorescence of 2-3 flowers, axillary or subterminal, bisexual, ebracteate, regularly symmetrical, perianth parts (7-)12(-33), free, outer whorl bract - or sepal -like intergrading through petaloid tepals into stamens; stamens 4-50, free of perianth, staminodes present or absent, filaments short, thick, anthers basifixed, dehiscing via longitudinal slits; ovary superior, carpels 8-12(-21), apocarpic, locules 8-12, ovules 1 per carpel; styles 8-12, stigmas adaxially decurrent along upper half of each carpel

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a single follicle or in star-like aggregates of &;13

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed one per follicle, shiny, dehiscing explosively along adaxial suture.

Note

Notes on delimitation: Placed in the order Austrobaileyales by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APGIII). A member of the ANITA grade (the basal group of angiosperms) along with Amborellaceae, Nymphaeaceae, Trimeniaceae, and Austrobailaceae. The Schisandraceae, sometimes treated as a separate family of woodyclimbers, is included here . Number of genera: Illicium L.:  about six species including I. cubense A. C. Sm., I. parviflorum Michx, I. floridanum J. Ellis, I. mexicanum A. C. Sm., I. ekmanii A. C. Sm.and I. hottense A. Guerrero, Judd & A.B. Morris. Schisandra Michx.: a mainly Asian genus of c. 20 species, with one species, S. glabra (Brickell)Rehder recorded from SE U.S.A. and eastern Mexico.

Distribution

Moist forests of Cuba, Hispaniola, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Mexico. Native group of disjunct, mainly Asian species.

Diagnostic

Key differences from similar families: Similar to Drimys Forst., a member of the Winteraceae which differ in having monocarpic fruits, cymose inflorescences and glaucousabaxial leaf surfaces. Variable quantities and shapes and sizes of perianth parts. Distinguishing characters (always present): Peppery-tasting leaves. Flowers apocarpous. Follicular fruits. Explosively dehiscent seeds.