Annonaceae

views updated

Annonaceae A family of shrubs, monopodial trees, and climbers, that have aromatic tissues. The twigs have septate pith. The leaves are simple, alternate, and exstipulate. The flowers are bisexual or unisexual, often fragrant, and their parts are free. They have 3 sepals, 6 petals, and many stamens. The few to many carpels are superior, and there are 1 to many ovules. Fruits typically are clustered and fleshy. Asimina triloba (pawpaw), of N. America, is one of the few temperate species. There are 128 genera, with about 2000 species, almost entirely tropical, and found mainly in the Old World, especially in lowland rain forests.

More From encyclopedia.com