deutsch | english

Flora Emslandia - Plants in Emsland (northwestern Germany)

Aralia family

Araliaceae Jussieu: The family is named after the Aralia – a genus native to Asia and America  consisting of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. The type species is the American aralia (Aralia racemosa).

The family, which occurs mainly in the tropics, but is also found in subtropical and temperate zones, consists of about 50 genera with about 1400 species. In addition to trees and shrubs also woody vines and perennial herbs occur. Often simple hairs, stellate hairs, bristles, or spines are formed. The simple, lobed or pinnate, serrated or entire leaves are usually arranged opposite. The mostly long petioles are widened at the base and often sheathing the leaf axes. If stipules are present, they are usually small, membranous and inconspicuous.

The mostly small, hermaphrodite or unisexual, actinomorphic flowers in most cases are arranged in terminal, often composite inflorescences that can be umbellarly, grapey or paniculate. More rarely the flowers are individually or in spikes. The flowers possess mostly 5 free petals. The calyx is sometimes lacking or is reduced to a narrow rim. Usually so many stamens as petals are present, sometimes they occur in large numbers. They may be free or partially grown together, or they form a column. The mostly inferior ovary consists of 1–2 or 5–10–∞ carpels with with the same number of styles. After successfully pollination develops therefrom usually a round or flattened stone fruit or a berry fruit with a fleshy outer shell.

Floral formula:

* K0–5 bzw. K(5) C5 A5–∞ or A(5–∞) G(5–10-∞) inferior

The Araliaceae are divided into two subfamilies: Die Aralioideae Link with about 1300 species and about 45 genera form by far the largest group. Only about 5 genera with approx. 200 species belong to the Hydrocotyloideae Eaton.

Interesting notes:

• From the genus Schefflera some species are cultivated as houseplants.

• The water pennywort (Hydrocotyle) was listed for a long time under the celery family (Apiaceae) before genetic studies revealed the close relationship to the Araliaceae.

• The ivy (Hedera helix) is the only native root climber in Central Europe. It is offered in many cultivated forms as a garden plant.

• The Araliaceae are very closely related to Apiaceae and can not be separated very clearly. The Apiaceae are probably emerged from the aralia family.