Vochysiaceae

Vochysiaceae is a plant family belonging to the order Myrtales.

Description

Trees or shrubs with opposite leaves; flowers are zygomorph 1--5 merous; ovary inferior or superior; one fertile stamen; fruits samara or capsules.

Biogeography

Seven of the nine genera are native to the Neotropics. The genera Erismadelphus and Korupodendron are native to West and Central Africa.

Evolutionary history

The family likely originated in South America. Erismadelphus is thought to have diverged from Erisma approximately 30 million years ago, and traveled to Africa as the result of long-distance dispersal.

Systematics

Vochysiaceae are closest to Myrtaceae. Vochysiaceae consist of 9 genera with about 250 species. The family is classified into two tribes:
Tribe Erismeae : one inferior ovary and winged fruits

Tribe Vochysieae: three fused superior ovaries and capsule fruits

The genus Euphronia, previously included in Vochysiaceae, is unrelated and now stands alone in the family Euphroniaceae, more closely related to the family Chrysobalanaceae.