Zygogynum

Zygogynum
Zygogynum howeanum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Canellales
Family: Winteraceae
Genus: Zygogynum
Baill.[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Belliolum Tiegh.
  • Bubbia Tiegh.
  • Exospermum Tiegh.
  • Tetrathalamus Lauterb.

Zygogynum is a genus of plants in the family Winteraceae with 47 species as of October 2024. They are native to areas from Borneo through New Guinea and Queensland to New Caledonia, with 22 species in New Guinea. Initially, the genus was thought to be endemic to New Caledonia, but in 1985 Willem Vink transferred the related genera Bubbia and Exospermum to Zygogynum, thus extending the range westward.[2] More recently, new species have been identified and described which again extends the range of the genus such that it now includes Borneo.[3]

Description

Plants in this genus are evergreen shrubs or small trees, leaves are alternate, undivided, and hairless; they may have a peppery taste. Inflorescences are terminal and have 1–150 flowers. Petals number from 4 to 30, stamens from 3 to 370, carpels from 1 to 50.[4]: 637 [5]

Distribution and habitat

The genus occurs in Borneo, the Maluku Islands, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, Norfolk Island, and the Australian state of Queensland. They occupy wet forests at altitudes from sea level to 3,600 m (11,800 ft).[1][4]: 637 

Species

As of October 2024, Plants of the World Online recognises the following 47 species:[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Zygogynum Baill". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  2. ^ Vink, Willem. "The Winteraceae of the Old World. V. Exospermum links Bubbia to Zygogynum" (PDF). Blumea: Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants. 31 (1): 39–55.
  3. ^ Utteridge, T.M.A.; Rustiami, H. (2022). "Out of New Guinea? Two new species of Zygogynum (Winteraceae) extend the genus west of Lydekker's and Wallace's Lines". Kew Bulletin. 77 (3): 759–771. doi:10.1007/s12225-022-10041-4.
  4. ^ a b Kubitzki, K.; Rohwer, J.G.; Bittrich, V., eds. (1993). The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. II - Flowering Plants·Dicotyledons, Magnoliid, Hamamelid and Caryophyllid Families. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-02899-5. ISBN 978-3-642-08141-5.
  5. ^ Thiele, K.R.; Adams, L.G. "Winteraceae". Families of Flowering Plants of Australia. Retrieved 22 October 2024.