Alzatea
A green plant with opposite, rounded, oblong leaves. The newest pairs of leaves seem to be joined at the centre.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Alzateaceae
S.A.Graham
Genus: Alzatea
Ruiz & Pav.
Species:
A. verticillata
Binomial name
Alzatea verticillata
Ruiz & Pav.

Alzatea verticillata is a small flowering tree, native to the Neotropics. It inhabits moist submontane forests from Costa Rica and Panama in Central America south to Peru and Bolivia in tropical South America. It is the sole species of genus Alzatea and family Alzateaceae.

Description

Alzatea verticillata has opposite, obovate or elliptical leaves. Its flowers are actinomorphic and bisexual, and lack a corolla. The flowers and fruit are similar to the Myrtaceae but the ovary is superior. The fruit is a loculicidal capsule.[1]

The closest relatives of Alzatea are in the families Penaeaceae, Oliniaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae of southern Africa.

References

  1. ↑ Heywood, V.; Brummitt, R.; Culham, A.; Seberg, O. (2007). Flowering plant families of the world (1st ed.). Buffalo NY: Firefly Books. p. 27. ISBN 9781554072064.
  • Schönenberger, Jürg and Conti, Elena. Molecular phylogeny and floral evolution of Penaeaceae, Oliniaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae, and Alzateaceae (Myrtales). American Journal of Botany. 2003;90:293-309.


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