Lactoridaceae

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Content is from Kirkbride et al. 2006, without modification. 
Updates are forthcoming.

Taxonomy

Lactoridaceae Engler

Common name: Lactoris Family.

Number of genera: 1 genus.

Number of species (Mabberley 1997): 1 species (Lactoris fernandeziana Phil.).

Disseminule

Fruit (dehisced), or seed.

Description

Fruits: Pistil(s) compound; 1; 1-pistillate; with carpels united. Fruit pericarpium; multiple; follicetum; without persistent central column; 10 to less than 25-seeded; 12–18-seeded (Airy Shaw 4–6-seeded); with 3-carpellate; with carpels separate; with carpels radiating at maturity (somewhat); with carpels remaining connected at style; without sterile carpels; not sulcate; in transection terete (assumed); apex beaked; apex moderately beaked; dehiscent. Dehiscent unit seed(s). Dehiscent at apex (assumed); without replum. Epicarp durable; glabrous (assumed); without armature; without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Mesocarp absent (assumed). Endocarp present; not separating from exocarp; thin; not splitting into 1-seeded pyrenes; smooth; without wing; without operculum; without secretory cavities; without mechanism for seedling escape; without grooves; without longitudinal ridges. Funiculus short; short without seed bearing hooks (retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.

Seeds: Aril absent. Seed minute; ellipsoid; in transection terete (assumed); not bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s); at maturity with food reserves; with endosperm; without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent. Testa present; without markedly different marginal tissue; without fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer; tight; without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other; without glands; without bristles; glabrous; without wings; without collar; without operculum; colored; monochrome; thin; not becoming mucilaginous when wetted; surrounding food reserve. Hilum punctate. Endosperm development nuclear; copious; smooth; with oils; without fatty acid containing cyclopropene; without apical lobes; without chlorophyll; without isodiametric faceted surface; without odor. Embryo differentiated from food reserve; well developed; 1 per seed; partially filling testa (with food reserve); 0.1 times the length of food reserve; at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; axile and centric and basal; linear and miniature; micro; parallel to seed length; without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; without stomata; not green; acotyledonous. Hypocotyl-radicle undeveloped.

Distribution

General distribution: New World.

Detailed distribution: Juan Fernandez Islands South America.

References

Literature specific to this family: Carlquist, S. 1964. Morphology and relationships of Lactoridaceae. Aliso 5:421–435; Lammers, T.G., T.F. Stuessy, & M. Silva O. 1986. Systematic relationships of the Lactoridaceae, an endemic family of the Juan Fernandez Islands, Chile. Pl. Syst. Evol. 152:243–266.

General references: Corner, E.J.H. 1976. The seeds of Dicots, esp. vol. 2. Cambridge University Press, New York, Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) & 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) & 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, & J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 & amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The plant-book, 706 p. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, and Spjut, R.W. 1994. A systematic treatment of fruit types. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 70:1–182.