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Order: Laurales
Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants)
> magnoliids
Seven families of which four
are encountered in southern Africa. Six genera and 14 species are native
to southern Africa, one genus and two species are naturalised, and an additional
six genera and 15 species are cultivated in the region. The
Lauraceae is the most diverse family in the region and includes
Stinkwood
as well as important cultivated species
such as Avocado,
Cinnamon and
Bay laurel (yielding bay
leaves).
Families encountered in southern Africa
Calycanthaceae
Five genera and 11 species, native to China, North America and northeastern
Australia. Two genera and three species are cultivated in southern Africa. |
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Lauraceae (Cinnamomum, Avocado,
Stinkwood, False Dodder family)
About 50 genera and 2500 species worldwide (mainly
tropics and subtropics), with four genera and 12 species native to southern Africa,
one genus and two species that are naturalised, and a further four genera
and 12 species that are cultivated in the region. The family includes
Avocado,
Cinnamon, Bay laurel (yielding bay
leaves) and Stinkwood. |
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Monimiaceae
About 22 genera and 200 species (mainly tropical regions but also southern
South America, eastern Australia and New Zealand), with one species,
Xymalos monospora (Lemon wood), native to southern Africa |
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Hernandiaceae
Five genera and 55 species (pantropical), with one species,
Gyrocarpus
americanus subsp. africanus native from Eritrea to South
Africa (Limpopo). |
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Families not encountered in southern Africa: Siparunaceae, Gomortegaceae,
and Atherospermataceae.
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