Gentianaceae
Encyclopedia
Gentianaceae are a family of flowering plant
s of 87 genera and over 1500 species.
Flower
s are actinomorphic and bisexual with fused sepals and petals. The stamen
s are attached to the inside of the petals (epipetalous) and alternate with the corolla lobes. There is a glandular disk at the base of the gynoecium, and flowers have parietal placentation. The inflorescence
is cymose, with simple or complex cymes. The fruit
s are dehiscent septicidal capsules splitting into two halves, rarely some species have a berry
. Seeds are small with copiously oily endosperms and a straight embryo. The habit varies from small tree
s, pachycaul shrub
s to (usually) herb
s, with ascending, erect or twining stems. Plants are usually rhizomatous. Leaves opposite, less often alternate or in some species whorled, simple in shape, with entire edges and bases connate
ly attached to the stem. Stipules are absent. Plants usually accumulate bitter iridoid
substances; bicollateral bundles are present. Ecologically, partial myco-heterotrophy
is common among species in this family with a few genera such as Voyria
and Voyriella lacking chlorophyll
and being fully myco-heterotrophic.
Distribution is cosmopolitan. The family consists of trees, shrubs and herbs showing a wide range of colours and floral patterns.
Economically, some species are cultivated ornamental plant
s and many species yield bitter principles used medicinally and in flavorings.
and Scotland
, is a priority species under the Biodiversity Action Plan
of the United Kingdom
.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s of 87 genera and over 1500 species.
Flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are actinomorphic and bisexual with fused sepals and petals. The stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s are attached to the inside of the petals (epipetalous) and alternate with the corolla lobes. There is a glandular disk at the base of the gynoecium, and flowers have parietal placentation. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is cymose, with simple or complex cymes. The fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
s are dehiscent septicidal capsules splitting into two halves, rarely some species have a berry
Berry
The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors....
. Seeds are small with copiously oily endosperms and a straight embryo. The habit varies from small tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s, pachycaul shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s to (usually) herb
Herb
Except in botanical usage, an herb is "any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or "a part of such a plant as used in cooking"...
s, with ascending, erect or twining stems. Plants are usually rhizomatous. Leaves opposite, less often alternate or in some species whorled, simple in shape, with entire edges and bases connate
Connate
Connate may refer to* conjoined twins* connation, in botany...
ly attached to the stem. Stipules are absent. Plants usually accumulate bitter iridoid
Iridoid
Iridoids are a class of secondary metabolites found in a wide variety of plants and in some animals. They are monoterpenes biosynthesized from isoprene and they are often intermediates in the biosynthesis of alkaloids. Chemically, the iridoids usually consist of a cyclopentane ring fused to a...
substances; bicollateral bundles are present. Ecologically, partial myco-heterotrophy
Myco-heterotrophy
Myco-heterotrophy is a symbiotic relationship between certain kinds of plants and fungi, in which the plant gets all or part of its food from parasitism upon fungi rather than from photosynthesis. A myco-heterotroph is the parasitic plant partner in this relationship...
is common among species in this family with a few genera such as Voyria
Voyria
Voyria is a genus of nineteen species of herbaceous perennial plants, belonging to the family Gentianaceae. They are mostly native to warm temperate and tropical regions of Central America and South America with one species occurring in the Everglades of Florida.Unlike most plants, they do not...
and Voyriella lacking chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
and being fully myco-heterotrophic.
Distribution is cosmopolitan. The family consists of trees, shrubs and herbs showing a wide range of colours and floral patterns.
Economically, some species are cultivated ornamental plant
Ornamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
s and many species yield bitter principles used medicinally and in flavorings.
Conservation
Some of these plants have limited ranges and are protected under governmental oversight. For example, Gentianella uliginosa (Dune Gentian), which occurs in some limited areas of WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, is a priority species under the Biodiversity Action Plan
Biodiversity Action Plan
A Biodiversity Action Plan is an internationally recognized program addressing threatened species and habitats and is designed to protect and restore biological systems. The original impetus for these plans derives from the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Genera
|
Gentianella Gentianella is a plant genus in the Gentian family .-Species:*Gentianella alborosea - Hercampuri*Gentianella amarella - Autumn Gentian, Felwort*Gentianella anglica - Early Gentian... Gentianopsis Gentianopsis is a genus of flowering plants in the gentian family known commonly as fringed gentians. These are similar to the gentians of genus Gentiana. Most have flowers which are blue to purple in color. They may be annual or perennial... Halenia Halenia is a genus of plant in family Gentianaceae. It contains the following species :* Halenia longicaulis, J.S.Pringle* Halenia minima, C.K.Allen* Halenia pulchella, Gilg... Hoppea Hoppea is a plant genus Gentianaceae.... Lomatogonium Lomatogonium is a genus of 18 species in the family Gentianaceae, found in cool temperate to subarctic regions of Asia, with two species also in Europe and one species also in North America... Macrocarpaea The genus Macrocarpaea, with 105 species and two hybrids of 0.5 m herbs, shrubs, epiphytes and small trees to 10 m tall, is the largest genus of the tribe Helieae of the gentian family... |
Prepusa (plant) Prepusa is a genus of plants in the Gentian family. There are five known species, all endemic to mountains in Brazil.It has been suggested that the name "prepusa" was derived from the Greek "πρεπουσα", which means "conspicuous", a references to the genus's unique flowers; another suggestion for... Sabatia Sabatia is a genus of about 20 species of flowering plants in the family Gentianaceae, native to eastern and central North America , Central America, and the Caribbean.... Swertia Swertia is a genus in the gentian family containing plants sometimes referred to as the felworts. Some species bear very showy purple and blue flowers.... Voyria Voyria is a genus of nineteen species of herbaceous perennial plants, belonging to the family Gentianaceae. They are mostly native to warm temperate and tropical regions of Central America and South America with one species occurring in the Everglades of Florida.Unlike most plants, they do not... |