Sympetalae

A flower showing sympetaly, fused petals, a characteristic of the Sympetalae subclass.

Sympetalae, meaning “with fused petals”, is a descriptive botanical name used in the Eichler, Engler, and Wettstein systems for a group in the flowering plants.[1] In this group the flowers have a separate calyx and corolla with the petals fused,[2] at least at the base of the corolla, a condition known as sympetaly.

In August Eichler's classification Bluthendiagramme, Sympetalae, also classified as Metachlamydeae, was listed as a subclass of the class Dicotyleae.[3] Adolf Engler and Karl Prantl also listed Sympetalae as a division of the class Dicotyledoneae in their system, Die Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien, with Sympetalae being composed of gamopetalous families[3] Alfred Rendle similarly Sympetalae originated from dicots, and then divided Sympetalae into Pentacyclicae and Tetracyclicae in accordance with the number of flower parts in each group.[3]

According to Engler and Prantl, Sympetalae includes the following orders: Diapensiales, Ericales, Primulales, Plumbaginales, Ebenales, Contortae, Tubiflorae, Plantaginales, Rubiales, Cucurbitales, and Campanulatae.[3]


See also

References

  1. ↑ History of Taxonomy, 1875-1926. Bihrmann's Caudiciforms. Accessed on August 10, 2011.
  2. ↑ Vuijk, D. Taxonomical Notes on the Grouping of Plants on the Natural History Site of Iceland. Natural History of Iceland Site. Accessed on August 10, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Sambamurty, A.V.S.S. Taxonomy of Angiosperms. I. K. International Pvt Ltd, 2005. Accessed on August 10, 2011