The Araliaceae are a family of flowering plants composed of about 43 genera and around 1500 species consisting of primarily woody plants and some herbaceous plants commonly called the ginseng family.[2][3][4] The morphology of Araliaceae varies widely, but it is predominantly distinguishable based on its woody habit, tropical distribution, and the presence of simple umbels.[5]
The morphology of Araliaceae varies widely. Many studies have found that there is no unifying characteristic capable of classifying the family.[6] In general, Araliaceae species have large, usually alternate leaves, often with aromatic ethereal oils, five-petaled flowers, two to five carpels, simple umbels, and berries without carpophores or oil cavities.[7] Some taxa carry prickles, and the family is often woody but also occasionally herbaceous. While Araliaceae is predominantly a tropical family, some taxa are also endemic to temperate climates. They are found in the Americas, Eurasia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Pacific islands.[citation needed]
Some examples of Araliaceae include the angelica tree (Aralia spinosa), the devil's club (Oplopanax horridus), ivy (Hedera spp., includingH. helix), and herbs such as ginseng (Panax spp.). Leaves are sometimes lauroid (resembling Laurus) and are simple to compound; when compound, they are ternate, pinnate, or palmate.[citation needed]
Araliaceae are found in the pluvial montane forest, very humid montane forest, and humid lowland river forest regions. They are also present in laurel forest, cloud forest, and warm, humid habitats.[citation needed]
4. The Asian Palmate group, largest of the groups representing Araliaceae.
There are also multiple taxa that float around these groups, but are not within them.
The generic level classification of the Araliaceae has been unstable and remains under study. For instance, numerous genera have been synonymized under Schefflera, within which about half the species within Araliaceae are placed. Recent molecular phylogenies have shown that this large pantropical genus is polyphyletic[11] and some believe it should be divided again into several genera, though these would probably not correspond with the previously recognized genera.
Recent molecular systematics techniques have made major improvements into understanding of the evolution of Araliaceae, leading to the knowledge existing today. Due to widely varying morphological characters, the systematics of Araliaceae had been largely debated over the past century, especially in the absence of molecular evidence. For instance, Araliaceae were previously merged into the closely related Apiaceae (synonym: Umbelliferae) in some taxonomic treatments that have since been rejected.[12][13] The family is closely related to the Apiaceae and Pittosporaceae, but some of the exact boundaries between Araliaceae and the other families of Apiales are still uncertain and are currently being examined.
One example group that proved problematic for Araliaceae systematics is subfamily Hydrocotyloideae. Molecular phylogenies suggest at least some of the genera traditionally spanning across Araliaceae and Apiaceae as Hydrocotyloideae[14][15] appear to be more closely related to Araliaceae. It has been recommended that subfamily Hydrocotyloideae be narrowed to just include genera Hydrocotyle,Trachymene, and Harmsiopanax to form a monophyletic group in Araliaceae.[16]
^Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2009), "An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III", Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 161 (2): 105–121, doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x, hdl:10654/18083
^Xiang Q, Lowry PP (2007). "Araliaceae". In Wu ZY, Raven PH, Hong DY (eds.). Flora of China(PDF). Vol. 13. St. Louis, MO: Missouri Botanical Garden Press. p. 491. ISBN9781930723597. Archived(PDF) from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
^"Araliaceae". succulent-plant.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
^Elpel TJ (2013). Botany in a day : the patterns method of plant identification : an herbal field guide to plant families of North America. HOPS Press. ISBN978-1-892784-35-3. OCLC1037950883.
^Plunkett GM, Soltis DE, Soltis PS (1996). "Higher level relationships of Apiales (Apiaceae and Araliaceae) based on phylogenetic analysis of rbc L sequences". American Journal of Botany. 83 (4): 499–515. doi:10.1002/j.1537-2197.1996.tb12731.x.
^Wen J, Plunkett GM, Mitchell AD, Wagstaff S (2001). "The Evolution of Araliaceae: A Phylogenetic Analysis Based on ITS Sequences of Nuclear Ribosomal DNA". Systematic Botany. 26: 144–167.
^"Araliaceae". succulent-plant.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
^Judd WS (1994). Angiosperm family pairs : preliminary phylogenetic analyses. Harvard Papers in Botany. OCLC30923673.
^Nicolas AN, Plunkett GM (2009). "The demise of subfamily Hydrocotyloideae (Apiaceae) and the re-alignment of its genera across the entire order Apiales". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 53 (1): 134–151. Bibcode:2009MolPE..53..134N. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.06.010. PMID19549570.
^Manchester S (1994). "Fruits and Seeds of the Middle Eocene Nut Beds Flora, Clarno Formation, Oregon". Palaeontographica Americana. 58: 30–31.
Further reading
Frodin DG, Govaerts R (2004). World Checklist and Bibliography of Araliaceae. Kew Publishing.
