Garryales
| Garryales | |
|---|---|
| |
| Aucuba japonica foliage and berries | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Clade: | Lamiids |
| Order: | Garryales Lindley[1] |
| Families | |
The Garryales are a small order of dicotyledons, including only two families and three genera.
Description
[edit]Garryales are woody plants that are either hairless or have very fine hairs. Members of the family Garryaceae are evergreen, whereas those of the Eucommiaceae are deciduous and produce latex.[2] All members are dioecious.
Taxonomy
[edit]These belong among the asterids. Under the Cronquist system, the Garryaceae were placed among the Cornales.[2] The Eucommiaceae were given their own order and placed among the Hamamelidae. The Oncothecaceae family has been associated with Garryales, though the link is not strong enough to prove they are related.[3]
Subdivisions
[edit]The order is made up of two families which, between them, contain three genera. These are:[3]
- Family Garryaceae
- Family Eucommiaceae
Distribution
[edit]Species in the order are spread between North America and Asia. The various Garrya species are found in North America, in southern and western coastal regions of the United States.[4] Aucuba species are found across eastern parts of Asia, while Eucommia species are within China.[5]
Uses
[edit]Plants within the Garryales may be cultivated for ornamental purposes;[2] Aucuba japonica is grown as a decorative hedge.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Taxon: Order Garryales Lindley, 1846". Universal Taxonomic Services. 7 Apr 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ a b c Stevens 2003, pp. 1.
- ^ a b "GARRYALES Lindley". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Results for Scientific Name = Garrya". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ Stevens 2003, pp. 2.
- ^ "Aucuba japonica - Thunb". Plants for a future. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
Further reading
[edit]- Liston, Aaron (May 2003), "A new interpretation of floral morphology in Garrya (Garryaceae)", Taxon, 52 (2): 271–276, doi:10.2307/3647395, JSTOR 3647395
- Stevens, Peter (2003), "Garryales", Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, John Wiley & Sons: 2, doi:10.1038/npg.els.0003731, ISBN 0470016175
