Order Berberidopsidales / Coral Plant Flowers


    Order Berberidopsidales

    Berberidopsidales is a small order of flowering species under the clade of the core eudicots. The woody evergreen dicotyledonous plants are distributed in eastern Australia and Chile. The species of Berberidopsidales possess crystals, usually have 5-merous floral parts and usually small flowers.

    The Berberidopsidaceae hermaphrodites and the only species of Aextoxicaceae undergo entomophilous syndrome. Coral plant and Olivilla are among the only 4 species of Berberidopsidales.

    Berberidopsidales Families

    Berberidopsidales comprises 2 families, 3 genera and 4 species.[1] Morphological differences exist between the families, even within the family members. However, molecular biological analyses placed them together in the same order.

    • Aextoxicaceae (Olivillo family).
    • Berberidopsidaceae (Coral plant family).

    Berberidopsidales Distribution

    Berberidopsidales Distribution

    The 2 genera and 3 species of the family Berberidopsidaceae are distributed to eastern Australia and Chile. The only species of family Aextoxicaceae is also found in Chile.

    Berberidopsidales Characteristics

    Berberidopsidales Characteristics

    The placement of Berberidopsidaceae with Aextoxicaceae in one order is unexpected since the species under the families are morphologically different. However, their existence under Berberidopsidales is through the similarities in their molecular data. The following are the characteristics shared by the members of this order.

    Berberidopsidales Flowers and reproduction

    Berberidopsidales Flowers and Reproduction

    The sole species of Aextoxicaceae has unisexual and actinomorphic flowers in hanging racemes.

    Berberidopsidales Family differences

    Aextoxicaceae

    • The members are large trees with an alternate to subopposite leaves. The leaves are simple, petiolate, non-sheathing, and exstipulate. The lamina and the lamina margins are entire.
    • The species undergo the development of secondary thickening from the conventional cambial ring. The stem’s xylem possesses tracheids, and there is an absence of vestured pits in the vessels.
    • The plants are dioecious.
    • The flowers are small and aggregated in racemes. The flowers are calyptrate and regular. There are 5 sepals (polysepalous) and 5 petals (polypetalous).
    • The stamen is also 5 in 1 whorl, opposite the sepals.
    • The gynoecium has 2 carpels; syncarpous with a superior ovary. The placentation is apical.
    • The fruit is a non-fleshy, indehiscent drupe with 1 seed. The seed is endospermic.

    Berberidopsidaceae

    • The members are lianas or climbing plants with small to medium-sized leaves. Leaves are simple, petiolate, alternate, and spiral. They can be herbaceous or leathery. The lamina is entire, and lamina margins are entire or coarsely toothed. They are exstipulate.
    • The leaf lamina of the members is dorsoventral. There are crystals in the mesophyll. The phloem transfer cells are absent in the minor leaf veins.
    • The species possess homogeneous or heterogeneous pith. The B. corallina develops secondary thickening from the conventional cambial ring.
    • The plants under Berberidopsidaceae are hermaphrodites.
    • The flowers are small and pendent. They exist in solitary or aggregated in racemes.
    • There are 5 sepals and 5 petals; free. They may be distinct in the perianth, or the sepals and petals are sequentially intergrading.
    • The androecium is arranged in 1 whorl with 5-13 stamens or densely arranged in 12-75.
    • The gynoecium is syncarpous with a superior ovary. The placentation is parietal.
    • The fruit is a fleshy and indehiscent berry. The seeds are many and endospermic.

    Berberidopsidales Example species

    Berberidopsidales only has 4 species.

    • Coral plant[5] – The plant is ornamental. The leaves are used for making baskets.
    • Olivillo – The plant possesses good ornamental value.
    • Montane tape vine
    • Streptothamnus moorei

    Cite This Page

    APA7MLA8Chicago
    BioExplorer.net. (2024, March 29). Order Berberidopsidales / Coral Plant Flowers. Bio Explorer. https://www.bioexplorer.net/order-berberidopsidales/.
    BioExplorer.net. "Order Berberidopsidales / Coral Plant Flowers" Bio Explorer, 29 March 2024, https://www.bioexplorer.net/order-berberidopsidales/.
    BioExplorer.net. "Order Berberidopsidales / Coral Plant Flowers" Bio Explorer, March 29 2024. https://www.bioexplorer.net/order-berberidopsidales/.
    Key References
    • [1]“Berberidopsidales”. Accessed December 23, 2021. Link.
    • [2]“Wood Anatomy of Aextoxicaceae and Berberidopsidaceae Is Compatible with Their Inclusion in Berberidopsidales on JSTOR”. Accessed December 23, 2021. Link.
    • [3]“(PDF) Habitat fragmentation and reproductive ecology of Embothirum coccineum, Eucryphia cordifolia and Aextoxicon punctatum in southern temperate rain forests”. Accessed December 23, 2021. Link.
    • [4]“Angiosperm families -Berberidopsidaceae (Veldkamp) Takhtajan”. Accessed December 23, 2021. Link.
    • [5]“Berberidopsis corallina | coral plant Climber Wall Shrub/RHS Gardening”. Accessed December 23, 2021. Link.

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