J Syst Evol ›› 1983, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (2): 151-152.

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Systematic Position of Diplopanax Hand.-Mazz.

Tseng Chang-Jiang   

  1. (Department of Biology, Xiamen University)
  • Published:1983-05-18

Abstract: Diplopanax is a genus described by H. Handel-Mazzetti in 1933 according to a flowered specimen. It was originally considered as belonging to the family Araliaceae. But fruit characters of this genus such as very large in size, oblong-ovoid in shape, and containing only one seed in a locule which has a curved embryo and very hard when dry etc., differ greatly from all other araliaceous plants, and evidently resemble those of the cornaceous genus Mastixia Bl. In addition, the fruit is very similar to the cornaceous fossil genus Tectocarya F. Kirchh., from which it may be distinguished by the absence of 2 germinate pores in the endocarp. Consequently, the present author tends to consider that the genus Diplopanax Hand.-Mazz. is best placed in Cornaceae, not in Araliaceae.